Story:
US military personnel forced to submit to the Sharia law during Ramadan!
Other Versions
Obama forces military to submit to Sharia law during Ramadan.
Analysis:
These messages shared widely online say that U.S. military personnel stationed in Muslim countries were forced to fast and practice Sharia law during Ramadan. The claims are only partially fact.
About the Claims
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, when Muslims around the world fast and pray as a devotion to God. Ramadan month usually lasts 29–30 days depending on the visual sightings of the crescent moon. In 2014, Ramadan was observed between June 28 and July 28 on the Western calendar. In the beginning of the Ramadan month, there were some online reports stating that U.S. troops stationed in Muslim countries were being forced to observe Ramadan; required to refrain from eating, drinking, alcohol, smoking, and also to practice Sharia law during the month.
Facts
It is a fact that military has issued some regulations and guidelines affecting the conduct of U.S. troops during Ramadan so as to conform to the local cultural customs, but they did not require the U.S. military personnel to either fast or submit to Sharia law.
For example, a June 26 article in military publication website Stripes.com described how US personnel in Bahrain are prepared for Ramadan. The US personnel in Bahrain were briefed by base cultural advisers to educate Americans about the holy month Ramadan, and with guidelines that required changing some of their daily routines. Accordingly, the Americans in Muslim countries can be fined or detained by local authorities for activities like eating, drinking or smoking in ‘public’ when off-base during the daylight hours. This is because it is a violation of local law during the month of Ramadan. The US personnel were also ordered to dress more conservatively by Navy personnel in Bahrain.
So it looks like, the aforementioned guidelines for US personnel stationed in Muslim countries during Ramadan were misinterpreted and exaggerated. Also the claim that President Obama forced military to submit to Sharia law during Ramadan appears unfounded.
Hoax or Fact:
Partially Fact.
Related Stories:
Australian PM Julia Gillard asks Muslims to get out of Australia
0 Comments