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On The Front Lines

The Rutherford Institute Urges President Bush, Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld to Protect Religious Rights of Americans in Middle East

"The U. S. Constitution applies to American citizens in whatever part of the world they might find themselves." John W. Whitehead, The Rutherford Institute

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. --John W. Whitehead, president of The Rutherford Institute, is urging President George W. Bush and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld to ensure that American servicemen and women stationed in the Middle East are fully permitted to affirm their religious beliefs and take refuge in their faith as the U.S. prepares for war. The appeal was prompted after the Institute learned that unnamed military officials had ordered troops presently being deployed to the Middle East not to wear religious jewelry or other outward symbols of their faith. In pointing out that the U.S. Constitution applies to American citizens in whatever part of the world they might find themselves, Whitehead declared, "Not even respect for another nation's cultural norms or political sensibilities is sufficient to justify the denial of our soldiers' First Amendment rights. Our Constitution does not bow to the religious intolerance of other nations."

In a letter to the White House and Pentagon, Whitehead references several occasions during the Persian Gulf War when service members were prevented by their superiors from exercising their religious faith. For example, due to pressure by the Saudi government, Christian and Jewish allied troops were instructed not to wear symbols of their faith while stationed in Saudi Arabia. Such observations are corroborated by the experiences of many Gulf War veterans who have detailed prohibitions on outward signs of faith and restrictions on the use of Bibles and hymnals in church services. American troops stationed in Saudi Arabia in December 2000 were not even permitted to openly celebrate Christmas on American military bases for fear of offending their Saudi hosts. Until Lt. Col. Martha McSally, with the help of The Rutherford Institute, challenged the military dress policy, American servicewomen stationed in Saudi Arabia were required to wear an abaya and to be escorted by servicemen while offbase. There is also evidence that the military continues to prohibit service members from outwardly affirming their faith by wearing a cross, Star of David, or other religious symbols. The Rutherford Institute has stated that it will continue to monitor the situation for violations of servicepersons' religious freedom and will consider further action if the religious freedom of our troops is not fully respected.

"President Bush has called on all Americans to pray for our servicemen and women. As we join our fellow citizens in petitioning God for their safe return, our troops must be free to fully exercise their own religious beliefs as well," said Whitehead. "If American service members are prepared to place their lives at risk in defense of our freedoms, we can do no less than ensure that their own freedoms are protected and preserved."

The Rutherford Institute is an international, nonprofit civil liberties organization committed to defending constitutional and human rights.


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