KABUL, Oct 12: Sixteen Afghans held at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba for four years were released as free men on Thursday, alleging they had suffered mental torture at the hands of their US military jailors.

The 16 men, visibly weary and shaken, all denied links to Islamist terror groups such as Al Qaeda and the Taliban — the basis for their arrest by the US after it invaded Afghanistan in 2001.

They arrived home with an Iranian who was released to the Red Cross for repatriation.

Relatives of the Afghans gathered at the Kabul offices of the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission to welcome home the men in tearful reunions at which supporters vouched for their innocence.

Habibul Rehman, 20, said he was arrested four years ago in eastern province of Paktia. He said he had been carrying light weapons — as do many men in war-ravaged Afghanistan — but said he had never fought for the Taliban.

Mr Rehman described his harsh treatment at the Guantanamo camp.

“We were put in isolated rooms, we were often deprived of sleep, given mental torture or kept in a cold room,” he told AFP.

“Four months before I was released, they deprived me of sleep for 38 nights telling me that what I have told them so far has not been true.”

Sayed Mohammad Ali Shah, a doctor, said that he and many of his fellow detainees still suffered mental anguish.—Reuters