Body Cavity Search threatened for Guantánamo Strikers

According to the Guardian, US guards at Guantánamo Bay are insisting on a body cavity search before any hunger striker can contact their lawyer, either via an in-person interview at the base or with a phone call.

Clive Stafford Smith, the founder of legal group Reprieve, which represents various detainees in Guantánamo Bay, said strikers do not need to be sexually assaulted in order to access a telephone to talk to their lawyer.

Smith stated that two of his clients and at least one other detainee 

refused to go through with the body cavity search, and therefore was unable to talk to their lawyers.

The US military has denied these claims. Lt. Col. Samuel House stated full frisk searches are conducted in a professional manner, with clothes on, similar to a pat-down search conducted by an airport security screener.

House added that detainees were searched when they moved between facilities or outside of camp, such as for a phone call, a legal appointment or a non-emergency medical appointment, and that refusal would result in not being escorted to any appointment by the guard force.

STORY WRITTEN BY: SPOON JUNG