US proselytising controversy
Footage shows a military chaplain in Afghanistan tell soldiers to ‘witness for Jesus’.
An exclusive report by Al Jazeera correspondent James Bays has been an international talking point this week.
The report about US service members proselytising in Afghanistan has caused a stir in US military circles.
The Pentagon said it is just plain wrong.
The footage taken a year ago inside Bagram military base shows troops at prayer and Bible study, and a discussion about distributing Bibles that had been translated into Dari and Pashtu – the main languages spoken in Afghanistan.
Are US soldiers in the Muslim world on a mission from God or from their government? How deep and pervasive is Christian missionary work within the US military? And what is the likely impact of the story on US troops in Afghanistan?
Joining Inside Story this week is Chris Seiple, the president of the Institute for Global Engagement, Sayed Aalam Uddin Asser, a member of the Islamic Front for Peace and Understanding in Kabul, and Col. Greg Julian, a spokesman for US forces in Afghanistan.
This episode of Inside Story airs on Tuesday, April 5, 2009 at 1730 GMT with repeats at 2230 GMT and on Wednesday at 0430 and 1030 GMT.