Hamdi set free

last updated 8 January 2015

Charleston, S.C.

Yaser Hamdi, an American-born Saudi held as an enemy combatant since being captured in Afghanistan in November 2001, was released from a naval brig this week and allowed to return to Saudi Arabia. In June, the Supreme Court ruled that if the U.S. wanted to detain Hamdi any longer, it would have to allow him to petition for a trial. Instead, the Justice Department said Hamdi was no longer a threat. In return for his freedom, Hamdi renounced his American citizenship and agreed to stay out of the U.S. for 10 years, and to never visit Afghanistan, Iraq, Israel, Pakistan, or Syria. Hamdi also renounced “terrorism and violent jihad,” and pledged to notify Saudi officials if he became aware of any terrorist plans.