The Nativity scenes in two Guantanamo Bay dining halls have been removed after troops said they unfairly promoted Christianity.
Captain John Nettleton, Guantanamo Bay naval base commander, decided to remove the Nativity scenes Wednesday in response to complaints received by the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, a group that supports religious freedom in the U.S. military, the Associated Press reported.
The two Nativity scenes were set up in Nov. in the center of two dining halls. One of the halls is mostly used by prison staff, including guards and translators, the AP reported. The Military Religious Freedom foundation said 18 troops from different religious backgrounds sent them emails saying the Nativity scenes unjustly represented one religion, the AP reported.
"By placing these displays in prominent common areas, the impression is that one faith is better than others and that the military institution singularly promotes Christianity," one email obtained by the Associated Press said.
Mikey Weinstein said the complaints came from troops who were Jewish, Muslim, Protestant, Roman Catholic, agnostic or atheist, the AP reported.
Kelly Wirfel, a spokeswoman for Nettleton, told the AP the scenes will be relocated to the prison's courtyard chapel. The depictions were set up by outside contractors, and were "not intended to endorse any religion," she said.
Wirfel also said no complaints about the Nativity scenes were ever made to them. But Weinstein told the AP the troops chose to complain to the Foundation because they feared retaliation from their command.
"They are terrified," he said. "Right now, there is a witch hunt going on to find out who did this."
Weinstein also told the AP the troops believed their concerns would not be taken seriously because those above rank had shown a preference for Christianity in the past.
"We would prefer not to have a large deal made out of this situation and only ask that these clear violations of military policy, and the Constitution, be removed immediately," the same email said, the AP reported.
