Send Letters of Support to US Prisoner of Conscience Sgt. Kevin Benderman

Kevin Benderman (m), aged 40, US army sergeant

Prisoner of conscience Kevin Benderman, jailed for his objection to the war in Iraq, has been moved to a military prison 3,000 miles from his family, who are reportedly the only people who will be allowed to visit him. He was moved to Fort Lewis, in Washington State, on 1 August.

His wife told Amnesty International on 3 September, "I spoke with Kevin today and he said to please express his sincere thank you to...all the people of Amnesty International who continue to help him." She was not officially informed that he had been moved to Fort Lewis, and found out only because his supervisor called her unofficially. He intends to appeal against the verdict of his court martial, but is unable to begin the process because the sentence and conviction have not yet been formally confirmed, over one month after he was sentenced. On about 20 August he asked permission for a telephone conversation with a military lawyer, but has reportedly not so far received approval.

Kevin Benderman had served as an army mechanic for 10 years when he developed moral and religious objections to the war in Iraq, after serving there in 2003, and refused to deploy there again. After seeing scenes of devastation in Iraq, and through his readings of both the Bible and the Qu'ran, Kevin Benderman filed an application for conscientious objector status on 28 December 2004.

His application was turned down on 27 April, and he was sentenced to 15 months' imprisonment at the subsequent court martial. Amnesty International considers his objection to the war to be genuine and credible, and also that he took reasonable steps to secure release from his military obligations, and therefore considers him a prisoner of conscience.



Send your cards and letters of support to:
Kevin Mitchell Benderman
PO Box 339536
Fort Lewis WA 98433-9536

If you are a member, to help ensure that your card or letter is given to Kevin at the Ft. Lewis Correctional Facility, we suggest that you list "Amnesty International Member" beneath your name on the return address.

http://www.amnestyusa.org/interfaith/actions.do

don't mind if I do myself

:kick:

This man is a hero.


I am sending him a letter to this effect. No, actually - a letter that says JUST that.

I will send him a letter saying that and more. The man is a personal hero.

:kick:

What's going to happen to him?

Demonstrate your support at this time, it's needed on so many levels.

for Sgt Benderman!

....the war would stop and the killing would be over.

Sadly, few American soldiers have the guts that Kevin Benderman possesses.

He's one the very few American troops worth supporting.

:patriot: