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#222222;font-family: Helvetica;font-style: normal;font-weight:
bold;letter-spacing: normal;">Guantanamo inmates starving amid new
medical rules</h1>
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break-word;text-align: left;" valign="top"> FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, 6 October 2017<br>
<br>
Reprieve - Press Release
<a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:alice.gillham@reprieve.org.uk"><alice.gillham@reprieve.org.uk></a><br>
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125%;text-align: left;mso-line-height-rule:
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100%;-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;word-break:
break-word;" valign="top"> The authorities at
Guantánamo Bay have ceased the ten-year practice of
force-feeding hunger-striking prisoners, under a new
policy by the Trump Administration.<br>
<br>
Some so-called 'forever' prisoners have been
striking for as long as four years, peacefully
protesting a lack of charges or a trial. The
ten-year practice had been to force feed them when
they have lost one fifth of their body weight.
However, human rights organisation Reprieve
understands that on September 20th, a new Senior
Medical Officer (SMO) stopped tube-feeding the
strikers, and ended the standard practice of closely
monitoring their declining health.<br>
<br>
While the total number of strikers is not
unclassified, it is estimated to include six of the
24 'low value' prisoners. Among them is Ahmed
Rabbani, detained without charge since September
2002 and on hunger strike since 2013. He reportedly
weighs just 95 pounds, and is suffering internal
bleeding.<br>
<br>
Khalid Qassim, also held without charge since 2002,
has likewise been on strike since 2013, and gone
without any food since September 20. He has told his
lawyers at Reprieve: “I can’t walk. My joints, my
hips hurt me too much.” His blood sugar has dropped
to 55.<br>
<br>
Mr Qassim added: “Before the medical authorities at
Guantanamo used to say we watch your health, meals
or your weight, your health is important, if you’re
in a bad condition, forcefeeding is required. After
the 20th, they don’t say that.”<br>
<br>
The prisoners have told Reprieve that the new
policy, which is combined with offering them trays
of food, is designed to force them to end their
strike. “I don’t want to die,” said Mr Rabbani, “but
after four years of peaceful protest I am hardly
going to stop because they tell me to. I will
definitely stop when President Trump frees the
prisoners who have been cleared, and allows everyone
else a fair trial.”<br>
<br>
Commenting, <strong>Shelby Sullivan-Bennis -
Reprieve counsel for Guantanamo detainees -</strong>
said:<br>
<br>
“This new Trump policy should not be implemented in
secret. Not only will the detainees die as a result
of their peaceful protest, but their deaths will
spark still more anger if the military coerces them
by manipulating their medical treatment. The Trump
Administration must urgently allow independent
medics to examine these detainees, before it’s too
late.”<br>
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<span style="font-family:helvetica
neue,helvetica,arial,verdana,sans-serif"><span
style="font-size:14px"><span style="color:#808080"><strong>Notes
to Editors:</strong><br>
<br>
1. Reprieve is an international human rights organization.
Reprieve’s London office can be contacted on: <a
href="http://reprieve.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d176b31fc0ccbde9f3f3a6349&id=42d4338f94&e=f8755a10f3"
target="_blank" style="mso-line-height-rule:
exactly;-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%;-webkit-text-size-adjust:
100%;color: #e35e14;font-weight: normal;text-decoration:
underline;">adam.smith@reprieve.org.uk</a>, or +44 (0)7768
558435.</span></span></span>
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