The U.S. Supreme Court dismissed an appeal by native Chinese Muslims who had asked to be released into the U.S. from American military custody at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
The case was dissolved Monday at the government's urging since all the men have been offered the chance to go to other nations. Five have rejected the offers and remain imprisoned. The men are Uyghurs, an ethnic group from western China. They were accused of receiving weapons and military training in Afghanistan. Some of them have been cleared for release since 2003, and most of the Uyghurs who were in custody have been released to other countries.
The Chinese government has said no Uyghurs would be mistreated if returned and has warned other countries against taking the men. Beijing last summer again urged the U.S. to hand over all remaining Uyghurs instead of sending them elsewhere.
China alleges the men are part of the East Turkestan Islamic Movement -- which the U.S. State Department considers a terrorist group -- that operates in the Xinjiang region. East Turkestan is another name for Xinjiang. (Source: Bill Mears, CNN, Mar 1, 2010).