JTF Makes Preparations for Ramadan
GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba – Preparations are under way at U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay that will accommodate the upcoming religious holiday, Ramadan, for the community of Muslims who reside on base and for the detainees at Joint Task Force Guantanamo.
Aug. 22, 2009 marks the beginning of Ramadan. Ramadan is a month-long observance for Muslims around the world to focus on their faith and reflect. It is a period of fasting, reflection, devotion, generosity and sacrifice observed during the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, which is the month that Muslims believe the Qu'ran was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad.
"Ramadan is a holy month," said Zak, the JTF cultural advisor. "It is a month to prepare yourself for the rest of the year."
Service members at JTF Guantanamo are making special preparations to ensure that the detainees have the opportunity to observe this important part of the Islamic faith. All of the detainees at JTF Guantanamo are Muslims, according to Zak. However, not all of them will observe the fast. Those detainees who do not wish to fast or those who cannot for medical reasons will continue to receive three daily meals on a normal schedule.
"We have prepared our guard force about the month of Ramadan," said Zak.
The guard force and medical force at the JTF received a briefing and specialized training about the month of Ramadan, including information on what happens during Ramadan and why Muslims fast in order to understand how the detainees will behave throughout the month.
Service members received Ramadan information cards with information for adjusted prayer times and meal times to accommodate the detainees during Ramadan.
Fasting is one of the five pillars of Islam. There are five duties incumbent on every Muslim. These duties are Shahada (Profession of Faith), Salah (prayers), Zakah (Giving of Alms), Saum (Fasting during Ramadan) and Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca).
During the month of Ramadan, Muslims abstain from food, drink and other physical needs during the daylight hours. Fasting is practiced during Ramadan from dawn until sunset.
The JTF invests significant time and effort to provide the detainees with special meals and adjusted schedules during Ramadan. Detainees who fast receive a meal before dawn, which is called the suhoor, and a meal to break the fast, the iftar, before the sunset prayer, according to Zak. The evening meal is a double portion and the detainees are also served a snack at 10:00 p.m. Medication schedules are also adjusted, if possible, for the month of Ramadan. Those detainees whose medications are medically necessary may break the fast for medical reasons.
Officials at JTF Guantanamo strive to accommodate the religious and social preferences of the detainees throughout the year by serving only Halal meats, from animals that were ritually slaughtered according to Islamic practice and catering menus to the religious and cultural preferences of the detainees.
Muslims are called upon to use this month to re-evaluate their lives in light of Islamic guidance. Many Muslims spend all day reading the Qu'ran or in prayer. The goal throughout the month is to recite and read the entire Qu'ran. This is usually done through an extra daily prayer during the evening called the Taraweeh.
Detainees at JTF Guantanamo are given the opportunity for quiet and uninterrupted prayer five times a day, as is observed in the Islamic faith. During Ramadan, the guard force will also accommodate the extra prayer time. The guard force is advised to also be respectful of those detainees who are absorbed in reading the Qu'ran or praying throughout the day.
The most important advice Zak gives to the guard force about dealing with detainees during Ramadan is to continue to be professional and follow procedures with common sense.
The detainees are not the only Muslims at U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Zak explained. A small Muslim community of service members and contractors exists at the base who will also be observing the month of Ramadan.
For more information about Joint Task Force Guantanamo, visit the Web site at www.jtfgtmo.southcom.mil.