Former Guantanamo Prisoner Shaker Aamer Released from Detention in Türkiye

London – CAGE International welcomes the Turkish authorities' decision to release former Guantanamo Bay prisoner Shaker Aamer after weeks in detention under threat of deportation.

Shaker Aamer spent nearly 14 years in US custody, most of them at Guantanamo Bay, without charge or trial. He was cleared for release twice, tortured throughout, and finally freed in 2015 after a sustained international campaign.

He has lived in Türkiye since 2019 with his wife and young child, and has struggled to settle his immigration & citizenship status despite meeting Turkish residency requirements. A 'G-87' restriction code placed on his record, usually reserved for public security concerns, has complicated matters. This treatment is all too common for former Guantanamo prisoners, who continue to face restrictions on their freedom because of US pressure and a detention that was itself unlawful.

Anas Mustapha, Head of Public Advocacy at CAGE International, said: 

"Shaker has built a new life in Türkiye, a country that has long offered refuge to people fleeing persecution. We call on the Turkish authorities to lift the G-87 code and grant him residency, so that the shadow of Guantanamo does not follow him forever."