Yasiin Bey Force-Fed Like Guantanamo Bay Prisoner
Yasiin Bey, the actor and rapper formerly known as Mos Def, has undergone the standard procedure for force-feeding inmates at Guantanamo Bay in a graphic video posted by the Guardian and Reprieve, a human rights group.
Guantanamo Bay Hunger Strike Worsens As Hopes for Prison’s Closing Fade
Bey voluntarily participated in the video to raise awareness for the force-feeding of over 100 Guantanamo prisoners who are participating in a hunger strike that began in February. A 30-page document, “Standard Operating Procedure: Medical Management of Detainees on Hunger Strike,” obtained by Al Jazeera English, details the procedure. It includes restraining hands and feet and forcibly inserting a lubricated feeding tube into the prisoner’s nose. The number of prisoners protesting their indefinite detention without due process has risen to 106, according to the Guardian – which is the majority of the 166 detainees that the White House has said are held at Guantanamo Bay.
Ramadan, the Islamic holy month during which Muslims fast from dawn to sunset, begins today. A recent court filing from four Guantanamo Bay prisoners sought to halt force feeding in light of their observance.