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Riyadh: Saudi Arabia is temporarily releasing all Guantanamo Bay returnees held in Saudi jails to spend Ramadan with their families, an official said yesterday.
The United States this year sent 29 Saudis home after negotiating a framework agreement with Saudi Arabia for the return of its citizens from the controversial prison.
"All those detainees who came back from Guantanamo are being released for the whole month of Ramadan, to fast Ramadan with their families and celebrate Eid with their families," Interior Minister spokesman Mansour Al Turki said.
"They will be back after Eid to complete the related procedures," he said, adding they were serving various sentences. The Muslim fasting month of Ramadan may begin today.
Al Turki said the authorities had already released some over the past month to spend several days with their families in a programme he described as a success. In August, Saudi authorities said nine returnees had been freed for lack of evidence against them.
Public anger over the treatment of the Saudi detainees in Guantanamo has been high in the kingdom. Two Saudis were among the three prisoners who hanged themselves in June at Guantanamo.
The authorities have organised a wedding for one of the returnees and have supported the education of their children.
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