Muslim detainees at Guantanamo Bay entered Ramadan with traditional sweets, dates and honey but without a military chaplain to lead them in prayer during Islam's holy month.

Nearly all the alleged al-Qaida and Taliban members held at the detention centre in Cuba are observing Ramadan, officials said on Tuesday. Meals are offered before dawn and after sunset to accommodate their fasting during daylight hours.

The adjustments for Ramadan, which began on Saturday, come as the US prison faces accusations of religious insensitivity.

A court challenge seeking the return of a full-time Muslim chaplain to the base has been filed by one detainee's attorney, who said that regular religious services would help "preserve the sanity" of the detainees.

"I think it would preserve order and discourage these suicides that are happening there," attorney Gaillard Hunt said.

A Justice Department spokesman declined to comment on Tuesday on the motion, citing ongoing litigation.

Muslim chaplains who regularly counseled detainees in the prison's early years have been assigned to US commands with larger numbers of Islamic service members, said Navy Commander Robert Durand.

"The detainee population generally rejects outside religious guidance," he said.

Detainees meet their religious needs primarily by relying on each other, with cell blocks designating an imam or prayer leader, he said.

Ramadan arrived this year with elevated security following three suicides in June.

A newspaper published for soldiers on the US base ran a front-page article earlier this month stressing Ramadan's significance to Muslims.

Fasting detainees will have a meal before dawn, and a "double portion" meal in the evening to ensure they receive enough nutrition. Medical personnel will monitor their health, Durand said.

Guantanamo does have an Islamic cultural adviser who meets with the detainees to discuss their concerns, and chaplains are available to come in and handle delicate tasks, such as the Islamic funeral prayer for the suicide victims in June, Durand said.

Source: China Daily