Judge permits forced feeding of Afghan accused of National Guard shooting

U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta issued a brief ruling on Saturday allowing the Bureau of Prisons to force-feed Afghan national Rahmanullah Rahman, who is awaiting trial on charges that he ambushed two National Guard members during a patrol in Kabul last year. The judge’s order permits the BOP to provide “nonconsensual nutrition and medical treatment” to Rahman while he remains in custody, citing the federal prison system’s duty to maintain inmates’ health and safety.

Rahman was arrested in 2023 after a federal investigation linked him to a plot that resulted in the deaths of two U.S. soldiers. He is currently held at a federal facility pending trial. The judge’s decision follows a request from the Department of Justice, which argued that Rahman’s refusal to eat could jeopardize his health and impede the court’s ability to conduct a fair trial. The order does not address the underlying criminal case but establishes the prison’s authority to intervene in the inmate’s medical care.

The ruling underscores the balance courts must strike between respecting inmate autonomy and ensuring that prisoners receive necessary medical treatment. It also highlights the broader legal and humanitarian considerations that arise when inmates refuse food or medical care in federal custody. The case will proceed to trial, where the charges of ambush and conspiracy will be examined in detail.