Nabil Hadjarab was born in Algeria but spent a large part of his life in France where his closest family members are all citizens. In 2002 he was kidnapped from his hospital bed and sold to US forces who first transported him to Kandahar and then onto Guantanamo Bay detention camp, where he suffered a regular pattern of torture, abuse and humiliation.  

Like British resident Shaker Aamer he was cleared for release as early as 2007 by the Bush administration as he was never implicated in any form of terrorism, let alone any crime.

His release this week along with Motai Sayab, also an Algerian, is a welcome sign. For many years, Nabil and his family have repeatedly requested the French authorities to secure his return to France where he feels more at home. However, such pleas have been ignored by successive French Presidents, despite a stated willingness by French authorities to host cleared inmates. He has only transferred to Algeria due to the good-will of the government there.

Moazzam Begg, former Guantanamo detainee and Outreach Director at CagePrisoners said, "Whilst we welcome these two men’s release, this is far from the end of the Guantanamo ordeal where there are still well over 100 hundred detainees still languishing in appaling conditions. We call on countries from across the world to emulate Algeria in being receptive towards taking in former detainees.We also call on the Obama administration to honour its oft-repeated promise of closing Guantanamo, starting with the repatriation – or appropriate resettlement – of all cleared prisoners."