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US military educates troops about Muslim holy month
Mosul (Iraq), Oct 26: No eating, drinking or smoking in public: that word is going out to American soldiers in Iraq as Muslims prepare to observe the holy month of fasting, Ramadan.
Mosul (Iraq), Oct 26: No eating, drinking or smoking
in public: that word is going out to American soldiers in Iraq
as Muslims prepare to observe the holy month of fasting,
Ramadan.
During Ramadan, expected to begin tomorrow, Muslims are
supposed to abstain from food, drink, cigarettes and sex
during daylight hours. It is a time for reflection, when
religious feelings run strong.
The US-led coalition is clearly concerned that those feelings could erupt into violence against American troops by religious Iraqis deeply offended that their country will be spending Ramadan under military occupation by non-Muslims.
"We have made sure all our forces are well aware of the implication of Ramadan," said Lt Gen Ricardo Sanchez, commander of US and coalition troops.
"We're making sure our forces clearly understand what the traditions are, and what the sensitivities are to make sure that we're being respectful of the Iraqi people."
To that end, American and other allied troops have been attending "cultural sensitivity" classes, where instructors, mostly chaplains, explain Islamic traditions and the meaning of the Islamic holy month.
"We don't want our soldiers to challenge any of those social customs or taboos or religious practices out of ignorance," said Lt Col Chester C Egert, a chaplain with the 101st Airborne Division in Mosul.
Bureau Report
The US-led coalition is clearly concerned that those feelings could erupt into violence against American troops by religious Iraqis deeply offended that their country will be spending Ramadan under military occupation by non-Muslims.
"We have made sure all our forces are well aware of the implication of Ramadan," said Lt Gen Ricardo Sanchez, commander of US and coalition troops.
"We're making sure our forces clearly understand what the traditions are, and what the sensitivities are to make sure that we're being respectful of the Iraqi people."
To that end, American and other allied troops have been attending "cultural sensitivity" classes, where instructors, mostly chaplains, explain Islamic traditions and the meaning of the Islamic holy month.
"We don't want our soldiers to challenge any of those social customs or taboos or religious practices out of ignorance," said Lt Col Chester C Egert, a chaplain with the 101st Airborne Division in Mosul.
Bureau Report