Friday, August 25, 2006

Man released from Guantanamo after 4-plus years

He's guilty, but we can't tell you why. Because it's a secret, you see. But trust us, he's guilty...

BERLIN (AP) — A German-born Turkish citizen held for more than four years at the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay has returned to Germany after being released, his attorneys said Thursday.

(snip)

German officials — including Chancellor Angela Merkel — worked to secure the release of Kurnaz, who was born in the northern German city of Bremen but holds Turkish citizenship.

Kurnaz traveled in October 2001 to Pakistan, where he was detained by Pakistani authorities and then turned over to the United States. He has been held at the Guantanamo in remote eastern Cuba since January 2002, and lawyers were first able to visit him in 2004.

(snip)

U.S. officials maintained that he was a member of al-Qaida, based on what they said was secret evidence. But a later review of declassified evidence in the case showed no indication he was connected to al-Qaida, the Taliban or any specific threat, his attorneys said.

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