: US Muslim Soldier Killed In “Friendly Fire” Accident

Army Specialist Rasheed Sahib, an American Muslim soldier, died in Iraq this week after being shot in the chest in a “friendly fire” incident that has left unanswered questions for the grieving Queens, NY family. Sahib died when an unnamed colleague discharged a round while cleaning his gun in Balad, Iraq. “Don’t you have to take out the bullets to clean a gun?” asked Sahib’s stepfather, Seenarine Jonathan, 47. “I don’t understand it. I can’t buy it.” The family was also upset that there would be a delay in returning Sahib’s body, preventing a timely burial as dictated by Islamic law. The Pentagon offered no other details, saying only that the incident was under investigation. The home of Sahib, who planned on earning his US citizenship and becoming an FBI agent upon his return from Iraq, displayed American and POW flags in mourning.

Shahed Amanullah is editor-in-chief of altmuslim.com.