Harry Potter bewitches Guantanamo Bay prisoners

[Kerrytravelers]

<http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/security_guantanamo_potter_dc;_ylt=Av0ixeVxhoUmv6LOhJ57.4us0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA3ODdxdHBhBHNlYwM5NjQ->


Harry Potter bewitches Guantanamo Bay prisoners
By Caroline Drees, Security Correspondent
Tue Aug 9, 4:53 PM ET



Harry Potter has bewitched detainees at the U.S. prison at Guantanamo Bay, where tales of the young wizard and mysteries by Agatha Christie top the list of most popular books, a prison librarian said on Tuesday.

"Harry Potter is a popular title among some of the detainee population," said the librarian, a civilian contractor identified only as "Lorie" who works at the prison camp for foreign terrorism suspects at the U.S. naval base in Cuba.

<snip>

But even this remote prison has not escaped the world-wide frenzy over the escapades of Harry Potter and his friends at the Hogwarts School of Wizardry and Witchcraft. The sixth book in the series by author J.K. Rowling, which went on sale last month, is the fastest-selling book of all time.

"We have Harry Potter in four languages, English, French, Farsi and Russian. We have it on order in Arabic. We do not have books 5 and 6 in the series, at this time. We have had several detainees read the series," Lorie said in a written response to questions from Reuters.

"One prisoner has requested the movies," she said.

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Wow. Rice pilaf and Harry Potter. Don't say these people aren't treated humanly. Now all they need are jerry falwell, pat robertson or james kennedy to save their souls and their good to go!

<snip>

[drhilarius]

1. That's just surreal...

Detainee: Hey, Jim, could you speed it up with the testicle beating, I've got to find out what happens to dumbledore.

Jim: Oh, you won't believe it.


weird.

[Heddi]

2. ha ha ha great!

super

[MercutioATC]

3. "Islamic extremists" can figure out what Christian fundamentalists can't.

The Harry Potter series is an entertaining work of fiction. No danger, just a literary diversion.

[knitter4democracy]

4. And considering that so many are so young, that makes sense

I'm not saying adults don't read and thoroughly enjoy HP, as we do, but many of the inmates are really young and have grown up with the series.

Or maybe they're relating to Azkaban?

[SemperEadem]

5. I've been playing the HP computer games

I just finished the Chamber of Secrets... I think it's an adorable tale and I'm in my mid 40's. One of my friends' daughter gave her the series for Christmas.

[knitter4democracy]

6. We're totally addicted in our house.

We're in our early thirties, and it's a constant source of conversation between me and my hubby. I was teaching when it came out and got hooked through my students.

I'm just saying that so many of the detainees are in their early twenties and all, meaning they've grown up with the series and want to read it over and over again. It makes sense.

[Lisa]

7. I wonder if the authorities see the irony of making Book 3 available

The story of an unjustly-accused man, interned in a hideous prison?