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GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba, May 21 (UPI) -- The Guantanamo Bay Periodic Review Board approved the release of an Afghan man 14 years after his initial apprehension. The board, which carries out parole hearings for prisoners of the detention camp, released a three-paragraph statement with some details about the release of the man named Obaidullah.
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"The Periodic Review Board, by consensus, determined that continued law of war detention of the detainee does not remain necessary to protect against continuing significant threat to the security of the United States," the statement read. "The Board found that the risk of the detainee presents can be adequately mitigated."
Obaidullah has "not expressed any intent to re-engage in terrorist activities," and "has not espoused any anti-US sentiment that would indicate he views the US as his enemy," since his apprehension in 2002.
The board added that neither he nor his family have extremist ties.
Obaidullah was arrested by U.S. forces during a July 2002 raid in Afghanistan, when he was 19-years-old. In 2008, a prosecutor alleged he was involved in a conspiracy and provided materials of destruction to terrorists when anti-tank land mines were found buried near his home.
Obaidullah's attorney's said the mines were left over from the Soviet invasion and the detainee buried them unarmed to get rid of them.
"This young man should have been released years ago," Marine Maj. Derek Poteet, his representative, said Friday, according to The Miami Herald. "He was taken from his bed at his home peacefully without resistance. He was subjected to real abuse at Bagram."
The Pentagon has withheld the transcript from Obaidullah's hearing with the Periodic Review Board at his request.
There are now only 80 detainees left at Guantanamo Bay out of 775 original prisoners after efforts by President Barack Obama's administration promised to close the detention center in 2008. Most detainees have reportedly been transferred to other countries.
