Judge Weighs Force-Feeding Tactic at Gitmo

By PETE YOST, Associated Press Writer
Thu Mar 2, 3:49 PM ET

WASHINGTON - A federal judge on Thursday questioned the government's treatment of a detainee at Guantanamo Bay who says he underwent forced feedings so painful that he gave up his hunger strike.

U.S. District Judge Gladys Kessler is considering whether to prohibit the forced-feeding practice in the case of Mohammed Bawazir, who has been imprisoned at Guantanamo Bay since the spring of 2002.

The case marks the first time a court has heard arguments on a new law, the Detainee Treatment Act, which outlaws torture of prisoners in the war on terror while sharply curtailing the access detainees have to federal courts.

Lawyers for Bawazir say the new law does not affect detainees who had lawsuits pending at the time it was signed, while the Justice Department argued that the curtailment does cover pending lawsuits. >>cont

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