TOPEKA, Kan. — A foundation that has sued the military, alleging widespread violations of religious freedom, said Tuesday that it has evidence showing that soldiers are pressured to adopt fundamentalist Christian beliefs.
The photos and videos of religious materials and activities are part of a suit filed by the Military Religious Freedom Foundation and Army Spec. Jeremy Hall, an atheist, against Maj. Freddy Welborn and Defense Secretary Robert Gates.
The material was gathered from Fort Riley in Kansas, the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs and Fort Jackson, S.C.
Examples at Fort Riley, where Hall is stationed, included a display outside his military police battalion’s office with a quote from conservative writer Ann Coulter saying, “We should invade their countries, kill their leaders and convert them to Christianity.” Another photo shows the book “A Politically Incorrect Guide to Islam” for sale at the post exchange.
Fort Riley spokesman Maj. Nathan Bond said the matter was under investigation. He said it is the Army’s policy to accommodate all religious beliefs to the extent that they don’t conflict with military missions.
The lawsuit filed in federal court in Kansas City, Kan., in September alleges that Welborn threatened to file military charges against Hall and to block his re-enlistment for trying to hold a meeting of atheists and non-Christians in Iraq.
Hall is with the 97th Military Police Battalion. He was serving his second tour in Iraq and has since returned to the U.S.
