On the 10th of February Outpost highlighted a statement made Moazzam Begg a former inmate turned Human Rights activist who praised Ireland’s role in accepting ex- Guantánamo detainees calling Ireland a “beacon of light’. However, it would seem with recent developments in Spain that Ireland is loosing its title.
Peter Finn writes in the Washington Post that Spain is going to accept five ex- Guantánamo detainees. Miguel Ángel Moratinos Spanish Foreign Minister stated that the relocate of these people “will be done with all the legal guarantees so as to defend the security situation that our country requires.” Spain has previously accepted two ex-detainees. Nine European countries have accepted 15 ex-detainees two of whom are awaiting trial in Italy. Latvia and Bulgaria have come forward to accept ex-detainees in the future.
What does this all mean? It means that the possibility of closing the facility is growing. Europe’s reluctance to accept ex- Guantánamo detainees has been reported to be a source of tension between the Obama administration and European leaders but this latest development Europe seems to be accepting an important role. However, with recent events in Yemen question still remain as to what is to be done with the 90 Yemeni detainees at Guantanamo Bay, roughly two-thirds of whom are set for transfer, but only if the situation in Yemen progresses.
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