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Marine handing out coins promoting Christianity removed from duty

Sunni Arabs expressed outrage yesterday after a US Marine reportedly handed out coins promoting Christianity to Muslims in the former insurgent stronghold of Fallujah, one of the flashpoint cities of the war.

  • AP
  • Published: 23:48 May 30, 2008
  • Gulf News

Baghdad: Sunni Arabs expressed outrage on Friday after a US Marine reportedly handed out coins promoting Christianity to Muslims in the former insurgent stronghold of Fallujah, one of the flashpoint cities of the war.

The US military responded quickly, removing a Marine from duty and saying it appeared to be an "isolated incident" amid concerns it could alienate Sunni allies in the fight against Al Qaida in Iraq.

Tens of thousands of Shiites, meanwhile, took to the streets in Baghdad and other cities to protest plans for a long-term security agreement with the United States.

The distribution of the coins in Fallujah, 65km west of Baghdad, was the second perceived insult to Islam by American service members this month. A US sniper was sent out of the country after using a Quran for target practice. Fallujah was the centre of the Sunni-led insurgency before a massive US offensive in November 2004.

Photos of the coins, which were inscribed with phrases in Arabic, were widely distributed via cell phones in Fallujah and were seen by an Associated Press employee.

'Intentional'

Shaikh Abdul Rahman Al Zubaie, an influential tribal leader in the city, spoke of his outrage over perceived proselytising by American forces and warned patience was running thin.

"The event did not happen by chance, but it was planned and done intentionally," Al Zubaie said.

"The Sunni population cannot accept and endure such a thing.

"I might not be able to control people's reactions if such incidents keep happening," he said.

Sunni officials and residents said a Marine distributed about 10 coins at a checkpoint controlling access to the city.

Al Zubaie said a man brought one of the coins to a mosque on Wednesday to show it to him and other Sunni leaders.

He accused the Marines of trying to do missionary work in Fallujah and said Sunni leaders had met with US military officials and demanded "the harshest punishment" for those responsible to make sure it doesn't happen again.

Mohammad Hassan Abdullah said he witnessed the coins being handed out on Tuesday as he was waiting at the Halabsa checkpoint, although he didn't receive one himself.

The US military said a Marine was removed from duty yesterday "amid concerns from Fallujah's citizens regarding reports of inappropriate conduct".

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