Guantanamo makes adjustments for Ramadan

AP ^ | Sept. 27, 2006 | Michael Melia

[Alouette]

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - Muslim detainees at Guantanamo Bay entered Ramadan with traditional sweets, dates and honey — but without a military chaplain to lead them in prayer during Islam's holy month.

Nearly all the alleged al-Qaida and Taliban members held at the detention center in Cuba are observing Ramadan, officials said Tuesday. Meals are offered before dawn and after sunset to accommodate their fasting during daylight hours.

The adjustments for Ramadan, which began Saturday, come as the U.S. prison faces accusations of religious insensitivity.

A court challenge seeking the return of a full-time Muslim chaplain to the base has been filed by one detainee's attorney, who said that regular religious services would help "preserve the sanity" of the detainees.

"I think it would preserve order and discourage these suicides that are happening there," attorney Gaillard Hunt said.

A Justice Department spokesman declined to comment Tuesday on the motion, citing ongoing litigation.

Muslim chaplains — who regularly counseled detainees in the prison's early years — have been assigned to U.S. commands with larger numbers of Islamic service members, said Navy Cmdr. Robert Durand.

"The detainee population generally rejects outside religious guidance," he said.

Detainees meet their religious needs primarily by relying on each other, with cell blocks designating an imam or prayer leader, he said.

Ramadan arrived this year with elevated security following three suicides in June.

A newspaper published for soldiers on the U.S. base ran a front-page article earlier this month stressing Ramadan's significance to Muslims.

Fasting detainees will have a meal before dawn, and a "double portion" meal in the evening to ensure they receive enough nutrition. Medical personnel will monitor their health, Durand said.

Guantanamo does have an Islamic cultural advisor who meets with the detainees to discuss their concerns, and chaplains are available to come in and handle delicate tasks, such as the Islamic funeral prayer for the suicide victims in June, Durand said.

Separately, a Red Cross delegation that began a two-week visit to the Guantanamo prison on Monday has met with base officials and was hoping to get a first glimpse of 14 high-level terror suspects previously locked up in CIA secret prisons.

Simon Schorno, a spokesman for the Red Cross in Washington, said the delegation would interview other detainees as it waits for the newest arrivals, including alleged Sept. 11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, to accept their offer for a meeting.

U.S. Army Gen. Bantz J. Craddock said last week that the detainees would be made available around Oct. 1.

[ladyinred]

That's it, cater to the terrorists! How thy must laugh as leftists claim they are being tortured there huh?

[goodnesswins]

It would be the BEST thing that ever happened to public school children.

[Free ThinkerNY]

During WW2, did we feed German POW's sauerkraut, Knockwurst and German Chocolate Cake and give them autographed copies of Mein Kampf? You can't fight and win a "politically correct" war.

[AFreeBird]

Yes, but who put the ham in Mohammad?

[toddlintown]

Meanwhile back at the ranch, infidels are finding it hard to eat without their heads.

[AZLiberty]

Give them each a hand grenade necklace, in case they want to celebrate by blowing themselves up.

[DieHard the Hunter]

> Yes, but who put the ham in Mohammad?

Same dude that put the "mad" there, I reckon...

[AFreeBird]

>> Yes, but who put the ham in Mohammad? Same dude that put the "mad" there, I reckon...

So he a mad ham?

Explains much.

[Fiddlstix]

During WW2, did we feed German POW's sauerkraut, Knockwurst and German Chocolate Cake and give them autographed copies of Mein Kampf? You can't fight and win a "politically correct" war.

1) sauerkraut was made by the Oriental Peoples Long before the Germans ever heard about it.
2) knockwurst is just another kind of sausage. It could have been made by the Greeks, Romans, or even the Egyptians for all we know.
3)Chocolate came from the American Continents. Nothing "German" or "Swiss" Or anything else about it. Without the "Discovery of the Americas" there would be no chocolate.
4) Mein Kamphf: Just the Insane "Rantings and Ravings" of one more "little dictator" in the same guise as a " supposed savior" the exact same thing as mohammed. Nothing more, nothing less!

Click the Pics

5) Political Correct: A Bunch of Fools who believe appeasement will work. A group of people so stupid that they do not understand.
IF!
Their Idea of appeasement comes to pass they will be the "First Ones" led to the slaughter and have their head chopped off!

Click the Pic

[dontpethesweatythings]

Meals are offered before dawn and after sunset to accommodate their fasting during daylight hours.

Well the prudent thing to do would be move them way north so there is daylight all the time and then they could starve.

[Andy28]

Hmmm.. I like it. That's good thinking.. Considered applying for top spot at the CIA? Grand Pumba, or whatever they call it these days..

[dontpethesweatythings]

They would not like my other ideas for the islamoscum.

That was a mild one;)

Plus I'd never live in the beltway zone...

[Alouette]

I know you don't like this. You told me on another thread "way back when" That you didn't like it.

I don't like jarred gefilte fish with jelly. I mean, it's like, eccch, gross! Meanwhile my dear husband just loves this gefilte jellyfish, but he will turn his nose up and make gagging noises over something really good, like blackened snapper.

[Lancer_N3502A]

Throw em a ham sandwich and call it even.