Muslim soldier with 101st Airborne says he won’t go if deployed
by Kristin M. Hall
AP
August 24
NASHVILLE
A U.S. Army soldier wants to leave the military service as a conscientious objector based on his beliefs as a Muslim, but he says he’s concerned he may be deployed to Afghanistan anyway.
Pfc. Naser Abdo, a 20-year-old infantryman assigned to the 101st Airborne Division, said Monday that if the military orders him to deploy, he will refuse to go despite the fact that it may result in a military charge against him.
Rick Rzepka, a Fort Campbell spokesman, said Abdo’s deployment has been deferred, but the military could deploy him while a decision was being made on his request. According to Army regulations, a soldier’s submission of a conscientious objector application will not preclude the soldier from deploying. His unit, the division’s 1st Brigade Combat Team, has already deployed to Afghanistan. He was assigned to the brigade’s rear detachment, which remains at the installation during deployments.
“Obviously the unit is taking it very seriously,” Rzepka said. “They have decided to go ahead and let the process play out, and if he warrants status as conscientious objector, he will be treated as such. But for right now, his deployment has been deferred.”
Abdo said when he joined the Army more than a year ago, he initially felt he could be a soldier and a Muslim at the same time. But he said he now believes Islamic standards would prohibit his service in the U.S. Army in any war.
According to documents provided to The Associated Press, Abdo cited Islamic scholars and verses from the Quran as reasons for his decision to ask for separation from the Army.
“I realized through further reflection that God did not give legitimacy to the war in Afghanistan, Iraq or any war the U.S. Army would conceivably participate in,” he wrote.
He also said he was harassed during basic training because of his religion, including hearing insulting comments about Islam and Muslims. He said that at times, he hasn’t been able to make his daily prayers because of his military service.
A recommendation from the commander of his battalion’s rear detachment based at Fort Campbell said if Abdo deployed to a combat zone, he could jeopardize the lives of fellow soldiers as well as his own because of his convictions as a conscientious objector.
Abdo said he filed his request in June but was still sent through the soldier readiness program for deploying soldiers. According to Army regulations, after submitting his request he should be interviewed by a chaplain and a psychologist and should have a hearing by an investigating officer. But he said none of this has happened yet, and he is concerned that his leadership will deploy him before a decision is made on his status as a conscientious objector.
“I believe that they wanted to deploy me all along,” he said. “They’ve prepared me for deployment, and I’ve been getting conflicting information on deployment dates.”
But he said he is prepared to refuse deployment orders and face any charges that may be filed as a result
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Wild Thing’s comment………..
I have soooo had it with these people….these Muslims.
His reason for refusing to deploy? U.S. Army Pfc. Naser Abdo, a 20-year-old infantryman assigned to the 101st Airborne Division, refusal to fight against other Muslims and bases his decision on the Qur’an and Islamic law – clearly putting Islam before his country.
This is intentional on his part, he had to know he might be deployed. He joined the Military, knowing FULL WELL that he might be deployed to an Islamic nation, and now decides that he should not go because he is Muslim? Strap him up with a suicide vest, drop him from a plane and detonate via remote. Don’t deploy him, or he might roll a grenade in his buddies’ tent. Don’t leave him here, or he might go on a shooting spree.
Separate his ass. He certainly joined after 9/11– where/who the @#%& did he think he was going to fight, Serbs in Bosnia? For the good of the service, clearly. This like a Shintoist joining after Pearl Harbor and refusing to deploy to fight Japan. And, his little punk ass is doing it to be “different” too. Kick him out.
Just a small sign of the things to come..
If this was a regular guy just refusing to deploy, his ass would have been discharged on the spot. There wouldn’t even be a story. He probably signed up for the college money.
“This like a Shintoist joining after Pearl Harbor and refusing to deploy to fight Japan.”
In fairness, there were people like that who were sent to fight in Italy instead, and were quite decorated. I suppose we could demote him from Airborne and send him to occupy Bosnia and face off against Serbs. (The wisdom of getting involved there and antagonizing the Serbs escapes me, but what is done is done).
That said, dishonorably discharge this guy now. You might remember the muslim savage, name escapes me, who fragged his fellow soldiers in a tent in Iraq. We cannot risk that, or another Fort Hood incident, again.
Or alternatively, demote him from Airborne, send him to South Korea, and have him face off against Norks.
He’s a publicity hound craving for his 15 minutes of fame and hopefully $$$$$$. He knew exactly what he was getting in to but enlisted anyways. Now he wants out because of his Muslim beliefs. He’s hoping Muslims will come to his rescue with money and celebrity status. They need to give this jerk a Dishonorable Discharge so it disqualifies him form VA benefits. Otherwise, he’ll get the same benefits of those who served honorably.
Thank you everyone so much.
I’ve gotta agree with earlier comments – this guy hasn’t watched the news all these years, or maybe he’s been living on Mars? You don’t KNOW that the US was attacked without provocation and we’ve been at war since? And, of course, not KNOWING any of this, he enlists to find – WHAT? I may be deployed against my fine Muslim brothers? Wait a sec, let me quote you some things out of the Koran – see? Now you should understand why I’ll refuse to be deployed, right?
He heard some insults about Islam? Well, let’s go back to that part where we were attacked without provocation – those things may happen there, Skippy! People may actually not LIKE watching women disfigured for running from abusive marriages, or captives being beheaded while bound in front of these murderers – all posted on the web in glorious technicolor. They might not be big fans of these “honor killings” here & abroad – some father goes off the rails & stabs his daughter to death because she – Heaven FORFEND! – consorts with NON-MUSLIMS and even REFUSES her arranged marriage to some 65-yr-old uncle she’s never met before! They might not care for the casualty counts of REAL Americans who go over and fight this scourge.
And then he insults everyone’s intelligence by claiming he’s doing it to reinforce American values? You’re a disgrace as a soldier AND an American! JAIL is too good for you, but at LEAST that!