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U.S. Judge Denies Guantanamo Inmate's Request To End Force-Feeding

July 09, 2013

A U.S. federal judge has rejected a legal move by a hunger-striking Guantanamo detainee to have his force-feeding halted.

U.S. District Judge Gladys Kessler said that while force-feeding "appears" to violate international law, she would be overstepping her authority if she issued an injunction as requested by inmate Abu Wa'el Dhiab.

Kessler said only President Barack Obama had the power to intervene in the case, noting that he had expressed concern during a speech in May about the merits of force-feeding detainees.

The U.S. military holds 166 foreign suspected terrorists at the Guantanamo Bay military detention camp in Cuba.

A Guantanamo spokesman said on July 8 that 106 captives were on hunger strike, with 45 being force-fed.

Most have been held for years without being charged with crimes.

Based on reporting by AP and Reuters

Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/article/25040589.html

Copyright (c) 2013. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.