Koran burning US soldiers to face punishment, but no criminal charges
A military investigation is recommending that as many as seven U.S. troops are punished for the burning of Korans.
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They face administrative punishments, but not criminal charges, following the incident four months ago at a U.S. base in Afghanistan.
U.S. military officials said the classified report and recommendations for disciplinary action against the service members involved were delivered to the Pentagon more than a week ago.
A military official told NBC News that a classified investigation into how service members burned copies of the Quran earlier this year is now complete and as many as 12 service members were involved in the chain of events that led to the burning of the religious materials.
According to the officials, one Navy member and as many as six Army soldiers could face nonjudicial disciplinary actions.
The punishments can range from a letter in their file to docking their pay or assigning them additional duties.
The lack of any criminal charges being taken is because military officials feel the incident was regrettable, but a mistake.
The Chicago Tribune quoted Nazir Ahmad Hanafi, an influential member of Afghanistan’s parliament and deputy head of its judicial committee, said relatively light punishment for the soldiers involved would have “dangerous consequences.”
Hanafi, a member of Afghanistan’s Ulema Council of clerics who also took part in an initial joint Afghan-U.S. probe into the incident, said he favored a more severe punishment, possibly even life in prison.
“Otherwise, it will inflame public opinion,” he said.
