Two Uighur brothers held in Guantanamo arrive in Switzerland

Wed, 24 Mar 2010

Geneva - Two brothers held at the United States military detention center in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, have arrived in Switzerland after being released, an official said Wednesday.

The two men, who hold Chinese nationality and are members of the minority Muslim Uighur group, arrived Tuesday after being held in Guantanamo for eight years.

The pair are will make new lives for themselves in the canton of Jura, in the north-west of the Alpine country.

The French speaking canton will host the brothers, aged 33 and 45, and help integrate them into local society, Julliard Charles, head of the Jura government, was quoted as saying.

Switzerland's federal government agreed with Washington to take in former Guantanamo inmates as part of an effort to help the current US administration close the controversial prison.

Despite the long imprisonment, the two men were not charged of any crime.

Charles told the local parliament that the brothers were being aided by the Jura services for refugees. Deputies in the house applauded the announcement.

China has slammed the Swiss decision to host the men, but the Jura has said the decision was based on humanitarian considerations alone.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/315538,two-uighur-brothers-held-in-guantanamo-arrive-in-switzerland.html.