9/11 Defendant Reportedly Condemns Lack of Honey, Olives in Gitmo Lunch as 'Psychological Torture

A Yemeni man accused of being involved in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 has reportedly cited a lack of honey and olives in his lunch as an example of the "psychological torture" he is subject to at Guantanamo Bay.

Ramzi bin al Shibh complained about certain meals during pretrial hearing in the Sept. 11 war crimes case, telling to a judge: “Every time we go to hearings and I go to meetings with my lawyer, they don’t bring us food...this is one type of psychological torture ... for me and the brothers.”

But Navy Capt. Robert Durand, a spokesman at the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, insisted that Shibh received a “freshly prepared standard detainee halal meal."

Sibh did, however “[complain] that his lunch did not include condiments such as olives and honey,” Durand said.

In this courtroom drawing reviewed and approved for release by a US military security official, Yemeni Ramzi bin al Shibh appears at his arraignment on May 5, 2012 at the US Naval Base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. (Photo: AFP/Getty Images)

Sky News continues:

Bin al Shibh's lawyer, Jim Harrington, said his client felt that the conditions at the US Naval Base in Cuba "have been made intolerable for him".

"Sometimes little things - not so little - built up, built up, and built up, things become even bigger," Mr Harrington said.

He noted the "frustration" of his client, whose cell he said was subjected to "noises and vibrations that interfere with his ability to concentrate, to sleep," he said.

Chief prosecutor General Mark Martins said there was nothing to back up those claims.

Sibh is joined by four others set to face trial in the case, including Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, who has described himself as the mastermind of the attack that killed nearly 3,000 people on September 11.

All five face charges that include terrorism and murder and could get the death penalty if convicted.

--

Other Must-Read Stories:

• NY Times Publishes First Person Acct. of Gitmo Prisoner: ‘I Would Not Wish This Cruel Punishment Upon Anyone’
• Pentagon Wants $450 Million to Maintain and Upgrade Guantanamo (But Obama Definitely Intends to Close It)
• Chaos at Gitmo: Guards Use ‘Less-Than-Lethal’ Rounds to Quell Hunger Strike Violence
• Did Gitmo Detainees Demand (and Receive) Treadmills Made By Muslims?