GITMO Detainee Seeks End To Use of Female Guards In Transporting Him

On Oct. 16, lawyers for Guantanamo detainee Abdul Hadi al Iraqi filed an Emergency Motion (full text, redacted) with the Military Commission seeking an order to prohibit female guards from being used during al Iraqi's transfers to and from hearings and meetings with attorneys.  Al Iraqi's Muslim beliefs prohibit him from having physical contact with women, which occurs during guards' shackling and unshackling him.  In seeking relief, al Iraqi's attorneys cite RFRA, as well as the 1st, 5th and 6th Amendments.  A hearing on the motion is scheduled for Nov. 17. Reporting on developments, the Miami Herald focuses on the decision by military censors to black out references to "female" and "male" in the redacted version of the motion.