Marine Corps clarifies “don’t pee towards Mecca” stories

Marine Corps clarifies “don’t pee towards Mecca” stories

Greeley Gazette ^ | November 15, 2011 | Jack Minor

Posted on Thursday, December 29, 2011 10:30:12 PM by Red Steel

The Marine Corps has said a recent news story about Marines being told not to pee towards Mecca does not reflect Corps training or doctrine.

The North County Times recently reported a story on Marines at Camp Pendleton being trained prior to deploying to Afghanistan.

The report mentioned that one of the trainers, Shafiq Mubarak, from the Marine Corps Center for Advanced Operational Culture Learning (COACL), told the Marines that in order to avoid offending Muslims in Afghanistan; they should not urinate towards Mecca.

“Mubarak also said the Marines should never spit or urinate to the west, the direction of Mecca that Muslims in Afghanistan face when they pray,” the article said. “In addition, when sharing a base with Afghan army troops, Marines shouldn’t sleep with their feet pointed west, because that also is considered offensive.”

Following the story, several articles appeared on the Internet criticizing what was perceived as political correctness run amok. Columnist Diana West wrote, “When Marines learn not to excrete in the direction of Mecca – home of the black cube known as the Kaaba – and not to sleep with their boots toward Mecca, what are they really learning?”

West continued, “They are learning to become intensely sensitized to the whereabouts of Mecca; how to be guided by that magnetic north for Muslims as a matter of the most personal habits and hygiene, all in accordance with Shariah (Islamic law). They are learning to act like Muslims.”

Lt. Col. George Robinson, Operations Officer for COACL, told the Gazette Mubarak’s statements do not represent Marine Corps doctrine. According to Robinson, the Marine Corps has not issued any type of instruction involving where Marines are to spit or urinate…..

EXCERPT

via Marine Corps clarifies “don’t pee towards Mecca” stories.

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