Guantanamo commanders have boasted in successive media presentations that the Army captain who serves as intelligence chief systematically strips prisoners of religious articles such as prayer beads, a prayer rug or prayer oils if they are deemed uncooperative.

"The issue of removing published religious items or materials would be relevant if these were United States citizens with a First Amendment right. Such is not the case with the detainees," said an Oct. 11, 2002, legal brief written by the Guantanamo interrogation unit's lawyer, Army Lt. Col. Diane E. Beaver.

MILITARY POLICIES

* A legal brief written by the interrogation unit's lawyer at Guantanamo Bay, Army Lt. Col. Diane E. Beaver, seemed to approve such methods as stripping prisoners and shaving their beards:

"Forced grooming and removal of clothing are not illegal, so long as it is not done to punish or cause harm, as there is a legitimate governmental objective to obtain information, maintain health standards in the camp and protect both the detainees and the guards."

The brief, dated Oct. 11, 2002, was attached to interrogation guidelines that the Pentagon has said were used at Guantanamo Bay from Dec. 2, 2002, to Jan. 15, 2003.

* New guidelines after January 2003 approved "providing a reward or removing a privilege above and beyond those that are required by the Geneva Convention from detainees," but added a warning:

"Caution: Other nations that believe that detainees are entitled to POW protections may consider that provision and retention of religious items (e.g. the Koran) are protected under international law. . . . Although the provisions of the Geneva Convention are not applicable to interrogation of unlawful combatants, consideration should be given to these views prior to application of the technique."