Hudhaifa
16-10-03, 22:07
UNDER GUARD AT GUANTANAMO
Gitmo GIs converting
to Islam?
Algerian lawmaker claims prisoners influencing U.S. security personnel
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted: September 25, 2003
5:00 p.m. Eastern
In the wake of the arrest of two U.S. Muslim troops at the Guantanamo Bay prison camp on espionage charges, an Algerian lawmaker is claiming the terror-related detainees at the facility have convinced several of their guards to convert to Islam.
Hassan Aribi says eight Algerian arrestees whose freedom he negotiated told him of the development, reports Islam Online.
"They told me that the American guards were very sympathetic with them to the extent of buying the detainees' needs [out] of their pocket money," the Algerian lawmaker told a seminar in Cairo, the newssite reports.
The official maintains the freed Algerians reported some of the American guards had embraced Islam due to "daily interaction with Muslim prisoners for the past two years." Aribi did not indicate how many of the guards converted.
The newssite reported Aribi claimed 90 percent of those held at the camp have no connection to al-Qaida or the Taliban.
"They were working with humanitarian relief agencies and were only arrested as part of an American campaign against possible suspects," Aribi said, according to the report.
Gitmo GIs converting
to Islam?
Algerian lawmaker claims prisoners influencing U.S. security personnel
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted: September 25, 2003
5:00 p.m. Eastern
In the wake of the arrest of two U.S. Muslim troops at the Guantanamo Bay prison camp on espionage charges, an Algerian lawmaker is claiming the terror-related detainees at the facility have convinced several of their guards to convert to Islam.
Hassan Aribi says eight Algerian arrestees whose freedom he negotiated told him of the development, reports Islam Online.
"They told me that the American guards were very sympathetic with them to the extent of buying the detainees' needs [out] of their pocket money," the Algerian lawmaker told a seminar in Cairo, the newssite reports.
The official maintains the freed Algerians reported some of the American guards had embraced Islam due to "daily interaction with Muslim prisoners for the past two years." Aribi did not indicate how many of the guards converted.
The newssite reported Aribi claimed 90 percent of those held at the camp have no connection to al-Qaida or the Taliban.
"They were working with humanitarian relief agencies and were only arrested as part of an American campaign against possible suspects," Aribi said, according to the report.