The United States has repatriated two Malaysian detainees from Guantanamo Bay to their home country after they pleaded guilty to charges related to the 2002 Bali bombings and agreed to testify against the alleged mastermind, Encep Nurjaman, also known as Hambali. The transfer was confirmed by the Pentagon on Wednesday.
The detainees, Mohammed Farik bin Amin and Mohammed Nazir bin Lep, had been held at the U.S. military prison for years on accusations of working with Hambali, the leader of the al-Qaida-linked group Jemaah Islamiyah. U.S. officials say they assisted Hambali in evading capture following the bombings, which killed 202 people, including 88 Australians.
Both men entered guilty pleas in January to charges of conspiracy and other crimes. Their testimony is expected to play a critical role in the case against Hambali, who remains in Guantanamo awaiting pre-trial hearings set for January.
In Malaysia, the pair will undergo a government-supervised rehabilitation program, which includes social, welfare, and health support, according to Home Affairs Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail. Malaysian authorities confirmed the men would remain in custody throughout the program.
International Reactions
The repatriation has drawn mixed reactions. Australian survivors and families of the Bali bombing victims criticized the decision, citing the men’s perceived lack of remorse. Tim Weatherald, who lost two teammates in the attack, said, “They almost seem proud of what they have done. I have no issue with them not ever seeing the light of day again.”
Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong stated that her office had expressed “close interest” in the matter to both the U.S. and Malaysian governments. Wong assured Australians that Malaysia had committed to monitoring the individuals closely.
Broader Context
The transfers come as rights groups push for the closure of Guantanamo Bay, where 27 detainees remain. Among them, only two are serving sentences, while 15 have never been charged and await release. Legal and logistical issues, including the use of torture in earlier CIA interrogations, have delayed prosecutions for several others.
On Tuesday, the U.S. repatriated Mohammed Abdul Malik Bajabu, a Kenyan man held at Guantanamo for 17 years without charge, leaving 15 never-charged detainees still in custody. Amnesty International has called on President Joe Biden to end the practice of indefinite detention without trial, urging him to act before leaving office.
Guantanamo Bay, once a central hub in the U.S. “war on terror” post-9/11, has faced international criticism for human rights abuses and the prolonged detention of inmates without trial.
