Ahmed Khalfan Ghailani, the former bodyguard of Osama bin Laden who was transferred from Guantanamo Bay to NYC last year, says he will boycott his trial if prison officials continue to strip search him. Ghailani, who is accused of being involved in the 1998 bombings of the U.S. embassies in Tanzania and Kenya, said this morning in court, "Yes, I understand my right to be here...Can I waive my right of strip searching?"
His lawyers say that the process—which involves "sqautting nude and spreading his butt cheeks"—brings up "vivid memories of the interrogation process that he endured [under the CIA], as well as a real fear that further maltreatment will occur in the present setting." His defense lawyer added, "He told me it eats his soul. He's terrified of going through it... Even if it means spending the rest of his life in jail, he doesn't want to go through this."
The judge will make a decision after a psychologist testifies later this month.
