French Muslim Troops Refuse Afghan Duty

[unhappycamper]

French Muslim Troops Refuse Afghan Duty
January 15, 2009
Agence France-Presse

French Muslim soldiers have refused to serve in Afghanistan, saying their faith forbids them from fighting fellow Muslims, a military spokesman confirmed to AFP.

"The refusal to be assigned to a mission for religious reasons is a micro-phenomenon concerning fewer than five cases per year," said Colonel Benoit Royal, confirming a report on the website of left-wing daily Liberation.

Liberation's respected "Defence Secret" blog reported Wednesday that an infantry soldier in eastern France had in October refused to be stationed in Afghanistan but later agreed, after meeting with a Muslim chaplain.

Soldiers who refuse a mission face disciplinary action and in most cases are discharged from the army, Royal said.

The army spokesman said the refusal by some soldiers showed a "lack of understanding of their commitment which is to bear arms for France to defend its interests and values at all times and everywhere."


Rest of article at: http://www.military.com/news/article/french-muslim-troops-refuse-afghan-duty.html

[DCKit]

1. My Christian upbringing also forbids murder.

Who knew we had so much in common?

[hardtravelin]

2. The French Army, minus the Legion, is a joke.

My Brother in-law and all his friends went AWOL after a few weeks. It is a common practice. The French do not expect much out of their army. The Marines and FFL do the heavy lifting.