According to a US official, Sami al-Hajj is a manipulator and a propagandist trying to garner public sympathy for the detainees at Guantanamo Bay. 1

Al Jazeera stated that

The US official said that al-Hajj's propaganda style was impressive and criticised him for continually complaining about the maltreatment of detainees in Guantanamo Bay.

The official added that al-Hajj looked healthy and in good condition when he boarded the aircraft departing from Guantanamo Bay, which is on US military territory in Cuba.

Sudans state minister for media affairs is quoted as saying

al-Hajj appeared exhausted, with very slow heart beats and low blood pressure...When I grasped his hands, they were very cold, apparently affected by the cooling system in the aircraft. But when I greeted his other two colleagues, their bodies were much warmer. 2

Of course, you must take what a Sudanese minister says with a grain of salt considering all the human rights atrocities occuring in Sudan right now.
Al Jazeeras director general, Wadah Khanfar, stated

I can tell you this (The accusations against Sami al-Hajj) is nonsense.

The medical reports that are released today from the hospital tell us that he was in a very difficult situation.

This gentle man was sick in Guantanamo.

Then he was transferred to Khartoum for more than 20 hours he was chained to his chair. He did not have food or go to the bathroom [on the flight].

So he was in a very difficult situation.

I cannot imagine that after so much time in jail these guys can accuse him of such a thing.

They should be apologising and compensate for this time spent in jail not start accusing him once he has become a free man. 3

It is clear that the US is trying to save some face after releasing yet another detainees without charge. To be imprisoned, having your rights and your freedom taken away for more than 6 years, to only then be released without charge and without trial is ridiculous. For the US authorities now to try and complain that he is faking his injuries is just madness. The US should be begging that Sami al-Hajj not sue them for taking more than 6 years of his life away on bogus charges.

- Beju -