A Muslim soldier has asked to leave the US military because he says his faith forbids him from taking part in US-led wars. Private First Class Naser Abdo said Islam is a peaceful religion and he believes US-led wars are not legitimate for a Muslim to take part in, ABC news reported on Friday.
“A Muslim is not allowed to participate in an Islamicly unjust war,” Abdo said, adding, “Any Muslim who knows his religion or maybe takes into account what his religion says can find out very clearly why he should not participate in the US military.”
Abdo, who joined the US military a year ago, said he recently began to lose touch with the Islamic community that was so important to him and decided to apply for conscientious objector status, which would allow him to leave the Army without consequence.
Army regulations define a conscientious objector as a person who is sincerely opposed to participating in war because of religious or deeply held moral or ethical beliefs.
“The Army recognizes that even in our all-volunteer force, a soldier’s moral, ethical, or religious beliefs may change over time,” a US Army statement read.
“The Army and Fort Campbell have procedures in place for soldiers who declare themselves to be conscientious objectors and who apply for conscientious objector status,” the statement added.
According to AP, Abdo cited Islamic scholars and verses from the Holy Quran as reasons to seek separation from the Army.
Abdo’s deployment to Afghanistan has been deterred, pending the approval of his application.
An August poll in the United States shows that a majority of US citizens oppose the war in Afghanistan, nearly nine years after US-led NATO and coalition forces attacked the country.
Six out of ten US citizens are dissatisfied with Washington’s handling of the Afghan war, according to the Associated Press-GfK poll.
Source: Press TV