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CANBERRA Markus Golden Jersey , Feb. 19 (Xinhua) -- David Hicks, a former Australian prisoner at Guantanamo Bay, says "it feels good to be an innocent man" after winning a legal challenge against his terrorism conviction in Cuba on Thursday.


Hicks was held at the U.S. Navy base for more than five years between 2002 and 2007 after accepting a plea bargain that meant he pleaded guilty to "providing military support for terrorism" in exchange for an early return home to Australia.


However, the United States Court of Military Commission would find on Thursday that "the findings of guilty are set aside and dismissed and appellant's sentence is vacated".


Hicks, who was captured by Afghanistan's anti-Taliban Northern Alliance in 2001 and handed over to the U.S. military, had wrongfully been convicted under the Military Commissions Act D.J. Humphries Jersey , a charge that did not exist at the time of his arrest.


Speaking to the Guardian Australia on Thursday, Hicks said despite receiving the positive news on his legal victory, he was still feeling the effects of his time in detention.


"Obviously it feels good that I'm an innocent man," Hicks said. "I don't believe it should be surprising to anyone considering the circumstances over the years.


"I'm disappointed that even though the American and Australian authorities were aware of my innocence from day one, I still have to go through years of torture that ruined my life for no reason, for political purposes."


Hicks was allegedly subjected to extensive periods of torture throughout his time in Guantanamo Bay Robert Nkemdiche Jersey , including solitary confinement, severe beatings and forced druggings.


He said there were periods throughout his time in detention that he did not believe his name would ever be cleared.


"I was quite skeptical," he said. "I didn't have much hope for justice to be done."


According to Hicks's father, Terry, the Australian and American governments must now apologize for the treatment of his son after recognizing his innocence.


"I think, at the moment Budda Baker Jersey , we just need an apology," he told The ABC on Thursday.


"The rulings they placed on David were all retrospective anyway, which is illegal.


"The American and the Australian governments in their wisdom decided to leave things as they were until now. At this point in time, I myself believe there should be an apology.