Four Guantánamo Bay prisoners filed a motion (PDF [4]) in the US District Court for the District of Columbia [5] on June 30 asking the federal court to order the prison's officials to stop the practice of force-feeding hunger strikers. In their motion, Shaker Aamer [6], Ahmed Belbacha [7], Nabil Hadjarab [8] and Abu Wa'el Dhiab [9] alleged that the practice violates human rights law and medical ethics, while serving "no penological interest." They also noted that they have all been detained at Guantanamo for 11 years and have since determined that it is not likely they will ever be charged or released, and thus their being force-fed serves no military necessity. They requested an accelerated hearing on the issue in order to avoid any conflict [10] with the upcoming Islamic holiday Ramadan [11], which begins on the evening of July 8. Currently, there are 166 detainees at the Guantanamo prison, of which 106 are on hunger strike.
From Jurist [12], July 3. Used with permission.
