Disappointment at Bradley Manning verdict
Bradley Manning verdict met with concern by many Quakers
The decision that whistle-blower Bradley Manning could face up to 136 years in prison, after being convicted of espionage and theft on 30 July, has been met with concern by many Quakers. The US army private leaked thousands of classified documents to website Wikileaks to spark a debate on US foreign policy.
Many expressed disappointment through the Facebook page of Quaker House of Fayetteville, the Quaker peace project in North Carolina that provides support to service members who are questioning their role in the military. American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) encouraged Friends to send letters of support to Bradley and to attend the trial.
AFSC said: ‘In the current political climate of the US, blowing the whistle on egregious acts of violence and secrecy is considered by authorities to be far worse than such violence and secrecy itself.’
Fears for Bradley’s wellbeing continue as the Peter Tatchell Foundation raise concerns that ‘he was subjected to homophobic abuse while in military detention awaiting trial’.
Steve Whiting, programme manager at Quaker Peace & Social Witness, said: ‘We Quakers stand strong for truth and integrity in public affairs. This case shines a light in a place where there is a serious lack of transparency and openness. Unfortunately, the person who shines that light is likely to be demonised and severely punished.
‘If states are to be truly democratic there must be checks, balances and accountability about what is done in our name. We need good information of the sort released by Bradley Manning in order to be able to hold our governments to account.
‘We recognise that it takes great courage and certainty of conviction to take this sort of action. We are holding Bradley Manning and those to whom he is dear in the light.’
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