[Vision2020] Islamic Group Asks Army to Deny Conscientious Objector Status to GI

[Tom Hansen]

Courtesy of Fox News (Yes, THAT Fox News) at:

 

http://tinyurl.com/Fox-News-CO-Status

 

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Islamic Group Asks Army to Deny 'Traitor' GI's Request for Conscientious
Objector Status

 

An American Muslim organization is asking the U.S. Army to deny a Muslim
soldier's request for conscientious objector status, accusing him of treason
and urging the military to punish him to the full extent of the Uniform Code
of Military Justice.

 

Pfc. Naser Abdo, a 20-year-old infantryman who joined the Army one year ago,
filed for conscientious objector status in June, saying his faith and the
military don't mix. "As a Muslim, we stand against injustice, we stand
against discrimination, and I feel it's my duty as an individual to do
this," Abdo told FoxNews.com.

 

The Army has deferred his scheduled deployment to Afghanistan.

 

But the American Islamic Forum for Democracy (AIFD) says Abdo's claim is
"patently false."

 

"Muslims serve with distinction throughout the United States Military and
AIFD sees Abdo's traitorous public assertions as a slap in the face to all
American Muslims especially those Muslims who fight in our armed forces for
the liberty and freedom guaranteed by the American Constitution," the group
said in a statement it issued on Friday.

 

Said Dr. M. Zuhdi Jasser, president of AIFD: "Abdo's actions are an affront
to every American Muslim who has proudly donned a U.S. military uniform. His
assertions are not built on Islamic teachings but on a feeble adherence to
the global political ideology of Islamism that threatens our security and
radicalizes our Muslim youth." 

 

Abdo said that in addition to conflicting with his religion beliefs, his
military duties were also consuming every part of his day and interfering
with his religious duties. "I knew that if I went to Afghanistan and, God
forbid, something were to happen, that my faith was so weak that I wouldn't
be admitted into heaven," he said.

 

But AIFD on Friday called Abdo's claim a cowardly attempt to use his faith
to make a political statement and said it belies the religious experience of
the vast majority of Muslim-American troops who have found the time to
perform their spiritual rituals.

 

"The Military has made the application for CO status extremely clear so that
soldiers, sailors and marines can not abuse the system and run from their
military responsibility," said Jasser, a former lieutenant commander in the
United States Navy.

 

Fort Campbell spokeswoman Kelly DeWitt said Abdo's deployment had been
deferred, but according to Army regulations he may be deployed to
Afghanistan at any time like other members of his unit.

 

"The Army recognizes that even in our all-volunteer force, a soldier's
moral, ethical or religious beliefs may change over time," an Army statement
read. "The Army and Fort Campbell has procedures in place for soldiers who
declare themselves to be conscientious objectors and who apply for
conscientious objector status."

 

AIFD says it hopes the military denies Abdo's claim and punishes him to the
full extent of the Uniform Code of Military Justice. The group is also
asking other American Muslim organizations to speak out and make it clear
that no loyal American Muslim should ever seek CO status.

 

Abdo's attorney, James Branum, says if Abdo's claim is denied, he can
re-file with new evidence, seek to take the matter to a federal civilian
court, refuse to deploy or drop the matter altogether. He acknowledged that
Abdo could go to jail if he refuses to obey orders to deploy.

 

"We're trying to avoid that kind of showdown," Branum told FoxNews.com. "At
this moment, Abdo is in a place where he's not going to violate his
conscience."

 

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Pro patria,

 

Tom Hansen

Moscow, Idaho

 

"Patriotism is not a short and frenzied outburst of emotion but the tranquil
and steady dedication of a lifetime."

 

-- Adlai E. Stevenson, Jr.

 

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