U.S. military says Afghan bibles have been destroyed

Bibles in Afghan languages at a U.S. base in Afghanistan have been destroyed in order to prevent American soldiers from trying to convert people in the region, according to a Reuters article.

Trying to convert Muslims to another faith is a crime in Afghanistan and would be breaking regulations. This article highlights the conflicts involving religion that can arise from the U.S. military’s position of not promoting any specific religion and the actions of individual soldiers.

The U.S. military has said its soldiers have not tried to convert Afghans to Christianity, but Al-Jazeera recently broadcast a story showing soldiers at a bible class on base with a stack of translated bibles. Military officials confirmed the bibles were sent through private mail to a Christian soldier from his church back home. They were confiscated and destroyed by chaplains.