Republican Senators: Guantanamo Bay Prisoners Not Entitled To Religious Freedom

[rug]

Republican U.S. Sens. Kelly Ayotte (NH), Shelley Moore Capito (WV), and Tim Scott (SC) allege unwarranted discrimination against female guards at Guantanamo Bay.

by Emily Atkin
Oct 30, 2015 12:08pm

Are the accused terrorists at Guantanamo Bay entitled to religious freedom? What if that freedom means the right to discriminate against women?

These are questions a military judge in Maryland will be forced to reckon with on Friday, as he hears testimony about the detention center’s policy on female guards. Under that policy, women guards at Gitmo are barred from certain jobs that require touching detainees. The policy was triggered by a military judge last year, after a Muslim detainee complained that his faith prohibits him from having physical contact with women

Since that ruling, however, at least two female guards have filed discrimination complaints against the judges. And on Tuesday, returning from a trip to the prison, three Republican senators said the accused terrorists were “manipulating” the U.S. legal system to hurt women guards.

“As the women guards at Guantanamo told us, they just want to do their jobs,” Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) said, “and they can’t believe that we are allowing terrorists who murdered almost 3,000 people to dictate how U.S. service members do their jobs — simply because they are women.”

http://thinkprogress.org/world/2015/10/30/3717087/republican-senators-female-guards-guantamano-bay/

[longship]

1. "You don't talk when I talk. Only I talk when I talk!

These people are cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs.

Screw them.

[rug]

2. They have carefully self-selected views on both religion and on freedom.

[longship]

3. Love you, rug.

You always post interesting things. No matter what ones opinion on religion, I would say that one should pay attention to your posts here. We used to have another here who did the same. Regretfully, no longer here.

The important thing with religion is respectful discussion. Because even if one thinks that religion is generally a bad thing -- a concept with which I agree -- given the prevalence of belief, one might as well be polite about it.

Too many assholes on this topic. From both sides. Keep it up, my friend!

[rug]

4. Back at you, longship.

I hope she resumes.