A Saudi held at the Guantanamo Bay naval base is turning down a chance to appear before a review board to protest what he and other prisoners consider overly intrusive bodily searches.
Mohammed al-Shimrani has been held at the US base in Cuba for 12 years without charge. He is scheduled to appear Monday before a board considering whether he still poses a threat. The board is reviewing about half of the 154 men held at Guantanamo.
The 39-year-old Shirmani says he won't attend to avoid a search in which guards touch the area near his genitals. He and other prisoners say the searches are offensive and degrading.
Lawyers for prisoners dispute government claims that the searches are necessary and have filed a legal challenge to halt the practice.
