Guantanamo prisoners handed over to Afghan authorities

Seventeen Afghan men released from the US detention centre for terror suspects in Guantanamo Bay were turned over to local authorities in Kabul today and will be allowed to return home soon, officials said.

The men – at least one of whom accused the Americans of mistreating him during his time at the detention facility – were being held at an undisclosed location in the capital, but would be sent back home as early as tomorrow, an intelligence official said.

The men were handed over during a ceremony at the Afghan Supreme Court, and three were allowed to speak to reporters.

“There was a lot of bad treatment against us, but this is not the time to tell you,” said Abdul Rahman, who said he had spent three and a half years at Guantanamo Bay. “I can’t talk about it now.”

Rahman, who looked to be in his 40s, said he was from Zabul province, a hotbed of militant activity north of the former Taliban stronghold of Kandahar.

Gul Rahman, another released prisoner who said he had also spent three and a half years at the jail, said he was innocent and demanded compensation. He said American forces arrested him, his father, cousin and another man from his village in Khost province. All of the others are still being held.

“I want my government to ask the Americans if they have any evidence we committed a crime. My father and cousin are innocent, and my father is very old. They must be released,” he said.

The men were only allowed brief comments before they were whisked away by Afghan security agents.

The Afghan intelligence official said the men would be housed at a government guest house in the capital, but he would not say where. It was not clear whether the government would help them return to their provinces, or if they would make their own way.