Terrorist Detainees Spellbound By Harry Potter Tales

Extracted from thescotsman.com
RACHEL WILLIAMS IN NEW YORK 16.09.06

The Harry Potter stories are the most popular books in the Guantanamo Bay detention centre's library, the Pentagon has revealed.

JK Rowling's tales of the young wizard were the most requested by terror suspects held at the high-security camp from among 3,500 titles available.

The Defence Department also said detainees enjoyed watching World Cup football games and playing table tennis.

The revelations came in a new document released by the department called Ten Facts About Guantanamo, which seeks to highlight the "benefits" available to those incarcerated at the camp in Cuba.

Recreational activities on offer are said to include basketball, volleyball, football, table tennis and board games, and high-top trainers are provided.

Departing detainees are given a Koran, a denim jacket, a white T-shirt, a pair of blue jeans, high-tops, a gym bag of toiletries, and a pillow and blanket for the flight home.

More money is spent on meals for detainees than on those for the US troops stationed there, the list claimed.

Detainees are offered up to 4,200 calories worth of food a day and gained an average of 20lb.
"The library has 3,500 volumes available in 13 languages - the most requested book is Harry Potter," the list added.

Matt Latimer, director of the Pentagon writers' group, which put the list together, said: "We welcome the chance to let people know there's more than one side to the story in Guantanamo."

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Considering that almost every detainees kept in Gitmo are innocent, (note: only 1 person is charged in US with a crime in connection with 9/11. and I hope he gets the most severe punishment) surely they deserve some treats!

It seems that in the US you are charged guilty until you can prove your innocence. On June 12, 2006, Senator Arlen Specter stated to CNN that the arrests of most of the prisoners held there were based on "the flimsiest sort of hearsay".

With regards to Matt Latimer's comments it would be nice if he told us what the other side of the story is in Guantanamo (just for the official record!).