[JURIST] US officials will release Murat Kurnaz [AI case sheet; chronology, PDF], a Turkish national with ties to Germany, from Guantanamo Bay [JURIST news archive] sometime next week, according to reports in the German media Saturday. Kurnaz was born in Germany and was in the process of obtaining German citizenship when he was arrested in Pakistan in 2001. He has been held at the US detention center since his transfer there in 2002. He had German residency status at the time of his arrest, and German authorities said earlier this year they were negotiating for his release [JURIST report] from Guantanamo.

Last year, Kurnaz claimed [JURIST report] that he had been subjected to torture, physical abuse and sexual humiliation by US interrogators. German media report that Kurnaz could be released Tuesday, but the timing has not been confirmed by US or German officials. Reuters has more.