A
man outside Bagram Air Base throws stones at U.S. troops standing
at
the gate, Feb 21. The latest eruption of protest, after it was reported
that U.S.
troops had 'disposed' of a two Qurans and Muslim
religious
articles, have been going on for six days. At least 30 people are dead.
Outlook
Afghanistan, Afghanistan
Dishonoring the
Holy Quran Harms American Credibility
"The
United States has been blowing the trumpet of human rights, democracy and
justice, and claims to support the same values in countries like Afghanistan.
But incidents in which its troops act against local rules, laws, traditions and
customs negate those claims."
A demonstrator carries an effigy of President Obama labeled, 'Black Dog Obama,' at an anti-American protest over the apparently inadvertant disposal of two Qurans, in Jalalabad, Afghanistan, Feb. 22.
After being in the country
over ten years, foreign troops in Afghanistan appear to remain unfamiliar with the
customs, traditions and beliefs of the Afghan people. From time to time, NATO
troops have been found guilty of disgracing Islam or stepping on the dignity of
Afghans. Recently, a huge amount of religious material, including the Holy
Quran, was disposed of at the Bagram Air Base.
NATO has called the disposal
of these materials "improper." Although NATO's commander in
Afghanistan, U.S. General John Allen, said that the incident was unintentional
and apologized for it, dozens of antagonized Afghans protested the incident,
chanting anti-American slogans near the base.
This isn't first time such a
thing has happened. This is the third incident in less than two months to call the
attitude of foreign troops into question. In January, a video was released showing
four U.S. Marines urinating on the corpses of three Taliban fighters.
Dead bodies are treated with
respect by almost all religions. The incident was condemned around the world,
but so far, there have been no reports about prosecution of the soldiers responsible.
In the same month, British
newspaper The Sun reported that two British soldiers had been
arrested over claims that they had abused a number of Afghan children who were
about ten year old. The newspaper said, "The accused pair - a sergeant and
a private in the Mercian Battle Group - allegedly encouraged a boy and a girl
to touch them through their clothes."
Posted
by WORLDMEETS.US
Foreign troops have long been
involved in the inhumane treatment of war prisoners in Iraq and Afghanistan,
which is a direct violation of international law. And they have been accused of
dishonoring religious places and materials like the Holy Quran.
Such incidents have done created
a wide gulf of suspicion between Afghans and the international community. The
United States has been blowing the trumpet of human rights, democracy and
justice, and claims to support the same values in countries like Afghanistan.
But incidents in which its troops act against local rules, laws, traditions and
customs negate those claims.
The United States and its
allies must take issues like this much more seriously. In order to prevent any
further loss of credibility in the eyes of Afghans and Muslims, the culprits of
these crimes must be prosecuted.
