MARION - A former prisoner of the United States Penitentiary in Marion is suing the Bureau of Prisons, alleging torture.

Hakeem Shaheed, an Atlantic City, N.J., native who was first incarcerated for drug trafficking in 1989 and later transferred to Marion in 1996, alleges he was tortured for two hours by guards on Oct. 3, 2005, resulting in several injuries.

Shaheed said he was tortured in part because he is a Muslim and in part because he was outspoken against alleged abuse of other inmates.

The government denies Shaheed's allegations of wrongdoing.

After his release from Marion in 2006, Shaheed and his Chicago attorney, John Stainthorp, filed a federal lawsuit against the Bureau of Prisons.

Although the case is not due to be heard until the fall in East St. Louis, Shaheed is expected to deliver his deposition to legal counsel representing the defendants, which include, among others, Michael Nalley, regional director of the North Central Region of the U.S. Bureau of Prisons, and former Marion Warden Randy Davis. Several guards, supervisors and medical personnel are also listed as defendants.

Michael Stewart, executive assistant for the North Central Regional Office of the Federal Bureau of Prisons, said it is the bureau's policy "not to respond to pending litigation."

Asked if he was aware of any punitive measures taken against personnel at Marion stemming from the alleged abuse of Shaheed in 2005, Stewart said, "This is not public information."

Stewart offered no comment in regard to Shaheed's claim that he was targeted because of his religion. Stewart referenced BOP policy, which states that "inmates can observe religious holy days and wear and use religious items consistent with their faith as long as this is consistent with policy and with the security, safety and good order of the institution."

Shaheed said he was labeled as "unmanageable" by staff because of his outspokenness on abuse and said he spent a great deal of time in isolation.

The real problems, he said, came almost immediately after Sept. 11, 2001.

"I was targeted by certain staff members because I am a Muslim," Shaheed said. "The guards came into my cell and would desecrate my holy book. I got strip-searched frequently and moved to another unit."

Shaheed said he was beaten about two months after he had relayed the alleged mistreatment of Muslim prisoners to federal agents.

In the complaint, Shaheed alleges that several guards came to his cell, seized him, struck him, handcuffed his hands behind his back, shackled his ankles and took him to the prison hospital. At the hospital, it is alleged that prison employees threw Shaheed onto a gurney.

Two guards are said to have punched Shaheed in the face multiple times and left. Another is alleged to have placed a baton on Shaheed's facial bones and began to grind the baton onto the side of his head while other guards held Shaheed down and targeted areas of the body to strike.

The complaint states Shaheed asked a member of the medical staff to intervene but was refused. It is alleged that the grinding of the baton into his face continued. Shaheed said the baton was also shoved into his mouth, ripping his gums and causing him to gag. He also alleges that he was struck in the chest, spine and rectum.

The complaint alleges that more than one supervisor witnessed the attack and took no action. Shaheed alleges he was choked, beaten again and finally thrown into a cell.

"The pain was excruciating. I try to block it out the best I can, but I can't forget what happened," he said.

Shaheed said the actions were caught on video and there have been repercussions. He says nine staff members have been removed from duty.

U.S. Attorney Courtney Cox and assistant Nathan Wyatt filed a formal answer or response to Shaheed's complaint on Sept. 23.

In that response, Cox and Wyatt denied all of the plaintiff's allegations of abuse.

They did say Shaheed met with special agents with the Office of Inspector General in March 2005 and that the special agents were investigating allegations of abuse, degradation and harassment of Muslim inmates at Marion.

They also admit placing the plaintiff in handcuffs, removing him from a cell, applying leg irons and moving him to the prison hospital. They further admit that the plaintiff was moved to another room where he was placed on a gurney, but deny all allegations of abuse or wrongdoing.

john.homan@thesouthern.com / 351-5805