Controversy as Obama releases Guantanamo prisoners

-Days before leaving office, President Barack Obama has released 4 high profile detainees from Guantanamo prison

- The released detainees are identified as Salem Ahmad Hadi Bin Kanad, Muhammed Rajab Sadiq Abu Ghanim, Abdallah Yahya Yusif Al-Shibli, and Muhammad Ali Abdallah Muhammad Bwazir

- President-elect Donald Trump has kicked against release of ‘extremely dangerous’ people into the battle ground

Against the wishes of President-elect Donald Trump, President Barack Obama’s administration has on Thursday, January 6 announced the release of 4 detainees described by Trump as ‘extremely dangerous’ people.

The released detainees who have been transferred from the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay to the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are among over 50 other prisoners being held in Guantanamo prison.

President Barack Obama’s action is against the express wish of President-elect Donald Trump.

According to the Department of Defence, the released detainees are identified as Salem Ahmad Hadi Bin Kanad, Muhammed Rajab Sadiq Abu Ghanim, Abdallah Yahya Yusif Al-Shibli, and Muhammad Ali Abdallah Muhammad Bwazir.

The Department of Defence statement read: “As directed by the president’s Jan. 22, 2009, executive order, the inter agency Guantanamo Review Task Force conducted a comprehensive review of the cases.

“As a result of those reviews, which examined a number of factors, including security issues, Al-Shibli and Bwazir were unanimously approved for transfer by the six departments and agencies comprising the task force.

 Periodic Review Boards consisting of representatives from the Departments of Defense, Homeland Security, Justice, and State; the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence determined continued law of war detention of Kanad and Ghanim does not remain necessary to protect against a continuing significant threat to the security of the United States.

“As a result of those reviews, which examined a number of factors, including security issues, Kanad and Ghanim were recommended for transfer by consensus of the six departments and agencies comprising the Periodic Review Board.”

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However, President elect Donald Trump insisted that there should be no more prisoner releases from the U.S. military detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

“There should be no further releases from Gitmo,” he tweeted.

“These are extremely dangerous people and should not be allowed back onto the battlefield,’’ Trump said.

Recall that President Barack Obama had wanted to close the prison since he came into office in 2009 but couldn’t achieve this as a result of opposition from Congress.

Meanwhile, the US army gave Muslim soldiers and soldiers of other religious minorities approval to wear beards, head scarf or hijabs for women if they so desire.

Such soldiers, while serving in the military are however expected to obtain approval to dress and groom themselves according to their religious customs.