David Hicks, the only person sentenced by the military commissions set up by the Bush administration to try suspected terrorists, walked out of prison in Australia on Saturday morning after serving nine months for providing support to a terrorist organization.Mr. Hicks, an Australian, had been detained at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, for more than five years before his appearance before the military commission in March. In a plea bargain he acknowledged that prosecutors had evidence to prove he had been a trainee for Al Qaeda who was prepared to fight Americans.
The deal allowed him to serve the remainder of his sentence in Australia. He also agreed not to speak to the news media for one year. In a statement read by his lawyer, David McCleod, Mr. Hicks said that he would honor the gag order. Mr. Hicks also thanked the politicians and organizations that had supported him. “I will not let you down,” the statement said.