WASHINGTON – Some former Guantanamo Bay detainees are getting another shot at suing military officials over treatment they say amounted to torture and abuse of their religious rights.
The Supreme Court on Monday threw out an appeals court ruling that dismissed claims by four British men who say that they were beaten, shackled in painful stress positions, threatened by dogs and subjected to extreme medical care while in custody.
They also allege they were denied copies of the Koran and prayer mats.
The plaintiffs contend in their lawsuit that the treatment violated a federal act that says government "shall not substantially burden a person's exercise of religion."
The justices instructed the appeals court to reconsider the lawsuit because the detainees have some rights under the Constitution.
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