Pentagon urged to investigate treatment of Muslim chaplain

[icymist]

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2001914422_yee28m.html

Wednesday, April 28, 2004 - Page updated at 12:00 A.M.

Pentagon urged to investigate treatment of Muslim chaplain

By Ray Rivera
Seattle Times staff reporter

Two members of the powerful Senate Armed Services Committee have asked the Pentagon to investigate the Army's treatment of Capt. James Yee, a Muslim chaplain imprisoned for 76 days on spying allegations before all charges against him eventually were dropped.

Sens. Carl Levin, D-Mich., and Edward Kennedy, D-Mass, sent a letter last week to Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld requesting an inquiry. Specifically, Rumsfeld was asked whether the extensive pretrial confinement and the charges against Yee, who now is stationed at Fort Lewis in Pierce County, were supported by evidence. The secretary also was asked about media leaks after Yee's arrest.

"The manner in which Chaplain Yee was detained and prosecuted raises serious questions about the fair and effective administration of military justice," the senators wrote in the April 23 communiqué. "We urge you to give this issue your immediate attention."

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