Guantanamo Bay detainee transferred to Algeria, fuelling hopes of facility's closure

A longtime Guantanamo Bay detainee from Algeria has been transferred to his home country, fuelling hopes the controversial facility could soon be closed.

News of the release of Said bin Brahim bin Umran Bakush, also known as Abdul Razak Ali, has highlighted the ongoing debate over the continued use of the detention facility in Cuba which has symbolised US hypocrisy on its human rights record.

Like former President Barack Obama, Joe Biden promised to close the notorious detention centre while campaigning for office.

Guantanamo held 684 detainees in June 2003, but the outflow of detainees has seen their number shrink to just 30 - a fact critics of the facility hope means its end is near.

According to recent news reports, Biden has been looking at options for finally closing Guantanamo Bay down before the end of his current presidential term. 

Bakush was captured in Pakistan in March 2002. He was living at a house linked with several men affiliated with Al Qaeda. He claims he was the victim of mistaken identity.

The US government determined last April that he was cleared for transfer, following its Periodic Review Board process. 

"We welcome this latest transfer and continue to urge the Biden administration to finally close this symbol of injustice that has stained the international reputation of our nation for far too long," said Robert McCaw, government affairs director with the Council on American-Islamic Relations in a public statement.

"Only the release of all cleared detainees and the closure of the entire facility will end this dark chapter in American history," he added.