Lawyer: U.S. ignoring well being of released Guantanamo prisoners

GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba, Nov. 29 (UPI) -- Two Guantanamo Bay prisoners from Algeria do not want to be returned to their homeland due to safety concerns, an attorney said.

Belkacem Bensayah and Djamel Ameziane fear that Islamist extremists will try to recruit them and kill them if they don't agree to join them, The Wall Street Journal reported.

Robert Kirsch, an attorney for Bensayah, said the U.S. government's planned repatriation is being rushed for political reasons.

He argued that the administration has no regard for the two men.

U.S. officials would not comment on individual cases, but said that they have plans to ensure humane treatment of the released prisoners.

"Consistent with the Convention Against Torture and our own commitment to human rights, the United States is firm in its commitment to not transfer detainees to countries where we believe they would face torture. The United States takes seriously all credible claims of mistreatment," Lt. Col. Todd Breasseale said.

Human rights activists are arguing that it is improper to transfer detainees without their consent, and the Red Cross, which interviewed the prisoners, has asked the government to reconsider the decision.

Guantanamo holds 164 prisoners, and 84 of them have been cleared for release so far.