BAGHDAD (AFP) — The US military said on Friday it was probing complaints that marines handed out coins inscribed with a verse from the Bible to a group of Sunni Muslims in Iraq, sparking outrage among local residents.
It said a marine involved in the incident in the former flashpoint city of Fallujah west of Baghdad was removed from his duties on Thursday.
"US forces initiated an investigation into reports that a coin with a Bible verse written in Arabic was distributed to Iraqi citizens as they passed through a Fallujah entry control point," a statement said.
"A coalition force service member was removed from his duties Thursday amid concerns from Fallujah's citizens regarding reports of inappropriate conduct.
"We can confirm that it is a marine who has been removed from his duties," the US military statement said.
It stressed that handing out Christian coins was the action of a single soldier and that there was no collective drive to influence the local Muslim population.
The military quoted its own own bible for troops deployed in Iraq, saying that in the general order, sub-paragraph two of prohibitions "proselytizing of any religion, faith or practice" was included.
"Regulations prohibit members of the coalition force from proselytizing any religion, faith or practices," US spokesman Colonel Bill Buckner said. "Our troops are trained on those guidelines before they deploy."
The military did not say what punishment an offender could expect, but added: "At this time, the incident (in Fallujah) is still under investigation. It is not possible to speculate on charges, due to this fact."
Residents of Fallujah, scene of one of the bloodiest post-invasion battles between insurgents and US forces in Iraq in 2004, said that marines had been doling out the token-like coins to residents to promote Christianity.
The general order to coalition forces also warns them that some local laws and customs prohibit or restrict certain activities which are generally permissible in western societies.
"Restrictions upon these activities are essential to preserving US and host nation relations and combined operations of US and friendly forces," according to the order.
The coin incident occurred less than two weeks after a US soldier was removed from Iraq for using a Koran as target practice at a firing range near Baghdad and writing graffiti in the Muslim holy book.
The incident sparked outrage from the Iraqi government of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and prompted an apology from US President George W. Bush. It also triggered protests that left several people dead in Afghanistan.
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