Pfc. Naser Abdo, 21, a Muslim soldier stationed at Fort Campbell, has been charged with possession of child pornography. Just last month, the Army approved his application for conscientious objector status after he claimed that his Muslim faith prohibits him from serving in the U.S. Army in light of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
However, Pfc. Abdo’s discharge is now on hold.
On Wednesday, an Army spokesman said: “Because Pfc. Abdo is pending court-martial for possession of child pornography, his discharge will not be approved until all disciplinary actions have been resolved.”
According to army officials, a total of 34 child-pornographic images were found on Abdo’s computer.
Abdo has denied the charges and claims them simply to be retaliation for refusing his orders to go to Afghanistan.
“What matters to me is that I did the right thing by my book. I refused to go to Afghanistan because it was against my Islamic conditions and I will refuse to accept these charges because I'm a man of truth, I'm a Muslim, I'm a soldier and I'm a human being,” Abdo told reporters.
Last year, Abdo spoke to Fox News about his decision to leave the Army, saying: “As a Muslim, we stand against injustice, we stand against discrimination, and I feel it's my duty as an individual to do this.”
Abdo faces an Article 32 hearing at Fort Campbell in Kentucky.
Comments