Abdulla Webster

Abdulla Webster (b. 1967) is a former Sergeant First Class in the United States Army who refused to deploy to Iraq based on the fact that he is also a Muslim.

He had 18 years of service (enlisting in 1985) before his decision to refuse to deploy to Iraq making him the most senior person to refuse deployment. In September 2003 he submitted a conscientious objector application to secure his release from military obligations in Iraq on the basis that his religion prohibited him from participating in any aggressive war against Muslims. His request was rejected based on the fact that he had fought in Operation Desert Storm in 1991 and that he had become a Muslim in 1994 but did not submit his conscientious objector application until nine years after his conversion. He was ordered to deploy to Iraq in February 2004 at which time he refused to join his unit.

On June 3 2004, he was sentenced to 14 months in prison, reduction in rank from E-7 to E-1, suspension of his salary and loss of pension and other benefits and given a dishonorable discharge. He had been due to retire from service in 2005 at which time he would have pulled a military pension of $21,394 a year as well as full medical and dental coverage for him and his wife for life. Webster had previously served in Kosovo. He had been based with the 1st Infantry Division at Bamberg, Germanysince 2001 and is married to a British citizen.

Webster appealed his case. On Jan. 30, 2008, the U.S. Army Court of Criminal Appeals announced that it rejected his appeal and his conviction stands.

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