Foreign Ministry announces former Guantanamo Bay inmate held for terrorism re-settling to Belize

Published by [email protected] at February 2, 2023

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Posted: Thursday, February 2, 2023. 10:07 am CST.

By Breaking Belize News Staff: Minister of Foreign Affairs, Eamon Courtenay, during a press briefing at the Laing Building in Belize City this morning announced that the governments of Belize and the United States have reached a deal to re-settle a former Guantanamo Bay inmate, Majid Khan, who was held under suspicion as a terrorist in Guantanamo Bay. Khan arrived in Belize this morning.

Courtenay, flanked by US Ambassador Michelle Kwan, provided details of Khan’s resettlement, describing it as a humanitarian act. According to Courtenay, after suffering inhumane conditions and torture during his detention in Guantanamo Bay, Khan has de-radicalized and is no longer considered a threat of any kind to international security.

Courtenay said the decision to accept Khan into Belize elevates Belize’s profile and served to strengthen relations with the US.

US Ambassador Kwan said Belize’s commitment to human rights is evident and commended the decision to accept Khan.

Courtenay detailed that Khan will be re-settled in Belize at the cost of the US government. He will not be allowed to travel internationally but will be allowed to move freely in Belize.

“Mr. Khan is not a terrorist and does not pose a threat,” Courtenay said. “He is seeing freedom for the first time in 20 years.” A house and vehicle will be purchased for Khan, Courtenay disclosed. All the funds for his settlement are being borne by the US government.

Khan, originally from Baltimore, was introduced to radical Islam and later traveled to Pakistan and was introduced to Khaled Sheik Mohammed, one of the architects of the 9/11 World Trade Center attacks. According to the documentation provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Khan never injured or killed anyone nor was he in combat. He served a 10-year prison term in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

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