14/05/2005
WASHINGTON: Faced with allegations of disrespect for Muslims held at the US prison in Guantanamo, Cuba, the State Department said on Wednesday that prison rules required that Muslim detainees be treated with dignity, AP reported. Spokesman Richard Boucher commented in response to angry anti-American demonstrations in Afghanistan and expressions of deep concern in Pakistan over the alleged desecration of the Quran at the Guantanamo prison. Boucher said copies of the Quran were available to Muslim detainees along with the opportunity to worship. “The call to prayer is played over camp loudspeakers at the appropriate times every day,” Boucher said. “And the detainees have stencilled arrows pointing in the direction of Mecca so people are afforded the opportunity to pray as they wish.” US personnel assigned to Guantanamo, he added, went through cultural training to ensure that they understood the procedures for protecting the rights and dignity of detainees of all faiths. He added that meals served to detainees were appropriate to their culture and their religious beliefs
SOURCE: Daily Times |
