US to release Guantanamo Bay detainee to Germany: report News
US to release Guantanamo Bay detainee to Germany: report

[JURIST] US officials will release Murat Kurnaz [AI case sheet; chronology, PDF], a Turkish national with ties to Germany, from Guantanamo Bay [JURIST news archive] sometime next week, according to reports in the German media Saturday. Kurnaz was born in Germany and was in the process of obtaining German citizenship when he was arrested in Pakistan in 2001. He has been held at the US detention center since his transfer there in 2002. He had German residency status at the time of his arrest, and German authorities said earlier this year they were negotiating for his release [JURIST report] from Guantanamo.

Last year, Kurnaz claimed [JURIST report] that he had been subjected to torture, physical abuse and sexual humiliation by US interrogators. German media report that Kurnaz could be released Tuesday, but the timing has not been confirmed by US or German officials. Reuters has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Egypt President Anwar Sadat visits Israel

On November 19, 1977, Egyptian President Anwar Sadat visited Israel, becoming the first leader of an Arab nation to officially visit. Two years later, President Sadat became the first Arab leader to recognize Israel by signing the Egyptian-Israeli Peace Treaty. Read President Sadat's address to the Israeli Knesset.

Jay Treaty signed

On November 19, 1794, US Chief Justice John Jay and British foreign secretary Lord Grenville signed a treaty in Philadelphia under which British forces pulled out of the disputed Northwest Territory. Review the Jay Treaty.