Nativity scenes removed from Guantanamo naval base dining halls after complaints Nativity scenes have been moved from two dining halls at the Guantanamo Bay naval base The Military Religious Freedom Foundation raised concerns about the scenes after it received 18 complaints According to the MRFF, troops felt the scenes were inappropriate but didn't want to complain to commanders The MRFF says the troops feared their complaints would be ignored or that they would face retribution The Nativity scenes will be placed in the courtyard of the base chapel The commander of the Guantanamo Bay naval base has moved Nativity scenes from two dining halls following complaints that the decorations improperly promoted Christianity. Both Nativity scenes will be moved to the courtyard of the base chapel, said Kelly Wirfel, a spokeswoman for Captain John Nettleton, commander of the base in southeastern Cuba on Wednesday. The displays were set up by foreign contractors who manage the two dining facilities and were 'not intended to endorse any religion,' Wirfel said in response to concerns raised by the Military Religious Freedom Foundation. Removed: Nativity scenes have been removed from two dining halls after the Military Religious Freedom Foundation received complaints from troops The group, which advocates for religious freedom in the U.S. military, had said earlier that it had been approached by troops who felt the Nativity scenes and Christmas decorations were inappropriate. Wirfel said base officials had received no complaints about the displays. Mikey Weinstein, president of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, said the organization received an email from 18 service members who were afraid that any direct appeal to commanders would be ignored and result in retribution. They are terrified. Right now, there is a witch hunt going on to find out who did this,' said Weinstein, a former Air Force lawyer who said the troops wanted to remain anonymous. Eleven of those who complained are Protestant or Roman Catholic and the rest are Muslim, Jewish, agnostic or atheist, he said. The base has a population of nearly 6,000 military and civilian personnel. Outside the coils of razor wire surrounding an area where nearly 160 prisoners are held, the base has set up many exterior displays of Christmas lights and other decorations along wide streets, creating the feel of a typical suburban American town in December. Religious freedom: The complainants said they feared any direct appeal to commanders about the nativity scenes would be ignored The challenged decorations are inside two dining facilities, one of which is used primarily by people who work inside the prison such as guards and translators. An email sent to the Military Religious Freedom Foundation from the troops said the Nativity scenes went up in late November in the center of the eating area and no other religions were represented despite the presence of other faiths on the base. '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,' said the email, provided to The Associated Press by the organization without the names of the senders. The email said prominent members of their command had shown 'Christian religious undertones,' which led them to believe they could not complain directly about the decorations. The senders said they put up with a great deal of hardship in their jobs, including having bodily fluids hurled at them by prisoners, and should not be made uncomfortable on their time off. 'We would prefer to not 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 email said.