26 February 2002

'Eid al-Adha Observed at Camp X-Ray

Guantanamo Naval Base, Cuba -- At 12:15 p.m. on February 23 the Islamic call to prayer echoed in the valley encompassing Camp X-Ray. Several minutes later, two trucks arrived with a special lunch for the detainees in honor of 'Eid al-Adha, the Muslim holiday marking the culmination of the hajj (pilgrimage).

The main dish of lamb stew spiced with cardamom, and accompanied by rice, cabbage, beans and baklava, the meal was an effort to honor Islamic tradition for the benefit of the detainees, who are observing their first major religious holiday in detention at the Guantanamo Naval Base in Cuba.

"Under the circumstances, in whatever way we can make it for them to celebrate, that is what we are trying," said Abuhena Mohammad Saiful-Islam, the Muslim chaplain who serves as Imam to the detainees.

Breakfast on February 23 included dates, sweets and hot tea. The day's meals marked a departure in culinary routine for the detainees, some of whom expressed their satisfaction to the Imam.

"This morning they were rather happy. They were saying that they had a good meal. They thanked God that they had a good meal, and thanks to those who provided it," said Saiful-Islam.

Regular daily meals at X-Ray add up to about 2600 calories per day and adhere to Islamic dietary requirements. They usually consist of packaged foods such as granola bars, cereal, barbeque flavored sunflower seeds, potato chips, and fruit juice. Dinner might include a package of precooked chicken and gravy, prepared according to halal standards (adhering to Islamic dietary requirements).

"This is a typical American meal," said Lieutenant Commander Jeff Carter, who works with the Joint Task Force (JTF) public affairs section at Guantanamo. The JTF has overall responsibility for Camp X-Ray and custody of the detainees. Carter acknowledged that it was difficult to cater to everyone's tastes since the detainees come from approximately 25 different nations.

The presence of the Imam Saiful-Islam raised the spirits of the detainees from the first morning he arrived at X-Ray on January 24 and sounded the adhan, or call to prayer. Beyond his capacity as Imam and as muwa'zzin for the call to prayer, his very presence at the camp each day brings comfort. "They are praying five times a day," said Saiful-Islam. "They are getting the Qur'an, and I'm there."

A large green sign on one of the guardposts reads "qibla" in Arabic, showing the detainees the correct direction to pray. Some were seen praying in unison wearing Islamic skullcaps, after having washed themselves and laid down the extra towel issued to them for use as a prayer mat.

The Imam said he was occasionally asked theological questions by the detainees, such as clarifications on religious rulings, and about readings from the Qur'an, which each detainee has been given a copy of.

The role of the chaplain is to "have a cordial relationship with anybody, whether they are a detainee or not," said Saiful-Islam. "The guard has a different role, the security has different roles, and that's why we were brought in -- to minister to them and to give them some hope. So our role as a chaplain is to approach them as human beings," he said.

Not all of the 300 detainees are Muslim. According to the JTF, there are a small number of Christians being detained at X-Ray, who have asked for and been given Bibles. A Christian chaplain ministers to them, though Saiful-Islam said he makes himself available to their needs as well.

Despite the presence of chaplains and the Joint Task Force's effort to mark 'Eid al-Adha, the general attitude of the 300 detainees remains hard for their captors to gauge.

"Some are grateful for the medical attention and treatment they've received, because it's clearly the best treatment that they've ever received in their life," said Brigadier General Michael Lehnert, who commands the JTF. "However, most of them have clearly considered themselves enemies of America when they were captured, and in my opinion, that belief has not changed. They still consider themselves our enemies."

Within the gates of Camp X-Ray, the unarmed guards follow strict security procedures, mindful that some of the detainees have threatened to kill Americans.

"I still see them as very dangerous individuals, and with that said, I take those threats seriously and I try to keep my soldiers attuned to the seriousness of their mission inside Camp X-Ray," said Colonel Terry Carrico, who supervises the guards in the camp.

Imam Saiful-Islam, despite his rapport with the detainees, said he had no doubt as to their potential threat.

"They are dangerous, if you give them the opportunity to become dangerous. It's obvious," said Saiful-Islam. "We do have that concern, but we don't approach them as such."

All of the detainees were well on their way to re-growing their beards, which were shaved off, along with their hair while they were deloused in detention at Kandahar prior to their arrival at Camp X-ray.

Major Stephen Cox of the JTF Public Affairs explained that the shaving was not only necessary for hygiene reasons and to prevent the spread of lice, but also revealed injuries in need of medical attention. "Some had cuts on their head that needed to be stitched," he said. JTF's policy is that upon arrival to Camp X-Ray, "they are allowed to re-grow the hair on their head and facial hair if they so desire," said Cox.

Up the hill from Camp X-Ray stands a series of tents, with rows of sandbags marking off the road leading below. These are the living quarters of the guards, still under construction, with showers being built and portable lavatories nearby.

About 500 soldiers live in "Camp Freedom," consisting of three Army battalions and one Marine battalion, combining both active and reserve duty forces. The guard rosters rotate the personnel at Camp X-Ray every eight hours, and while on duty the guards eat prepackaged meals that closely resemble the normal cuisine eaten by the detainees.

Camp X-Ray was named after the phonetic word for the letter x, in a subtle reference to its remote location on the periphery of the naval base. It previously housed a portion of the 34,000 Haitian refugees who were brought to Guantanamo in 1991 following social and political unrest in that country.

The camp has now reached full capacity with 300 detainees. Twenty cells remain vacant, to be used when isolation is deemed necessary, either for discipline or in the case of contagious disease.

JTF plans a new, sturdier facility for the detainees that will be set on higher ground and thus allow better ventilation from the ocean wind, which currently brings welcome relief to detainees and guards alike in the warm Caribbean climate.

This is Part 1 of a 3-part series on the Guantanamo detainees.