A local Islamic relations organization is calling on the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate the apparent suicide in March of a Marine Corps recruit from Taylor.
The Michigan Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations announced Tuesday its request for the department to determine whether 20-year-old Raheel Siddiqui’s civil rights were violated during alleged hazing and abuse that led to his death March 18.
He fell nearly 40 feet in a barracks stairwell at a Marine training depot at Parris Island, South Carolina, officials have said.
“The seriousness of this case rises to the level for intervention from the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice,” said Dawud Walid, CAIR-MI executive director.
The Marine Corps has ruled the death a suicide.
“Additionally, the investigations revealed departures from the policies and procedures established for Marine Corps recruit training,” Corps officials said in a statement last week.
The findings were the result of three investigations by Maj. Gen. James Lukeman from the service’s training and education command in Quantico, Virginia.
Siddiqui’s family does not believe he committed suicide, according to family attorney Shiraz Khan.
“We believe there is a lack of material evidence needed to support ‘suicide’ as the most probable cause of death in this case,” Khan said in a statement released Tuesday.
Khan went on to disclose Siddiqui was not known to have suicidal ideas, mental health problems or family problems.
“The family feels that their son was targeted and intentionally abused. It is our understanding that Raheel did not display any disqualifying conditions, medical or otherwise during recruiting and processing into the U.S. Marine Corps,” Khan said.
Siddiqui reported for boot camp two weeks before his death March 7, according to officials. CAIR-MI alleged he was hazed and abused by a drill instructor, including slaps to the face.
According to the Wall Street Journal, which first reported on the investigations, the drill instructor allegedly referred to Siddiqui as a terrorist and physically abused him.
That drill instructor also is under investigation for reportedly abusing a different Muslim recruit in 2015, according to CAIR-MI.
Investigations conducted by the Corps into Siddiqui’s death could lead to punishments for as many as 20 officers and enlisted leaders identified for potential administrative or judicial action, which could include courts-martial.
In a statement last week, the Marine Corps said it has ordered several commanders and enlisted leaders be relieved and it suspended a number of drill instructors.
Officials alleged recurrent physical and verbal abuse of recruits by drill instructors, with a noted insufficient oversight and supervision at various command levels, and maltreatment of new drill instructors by veteran instructors. They also uncovered inconsistencies in the Marines’ policies and procedures for responding to suicidal thoughts or statements.
In an attempt to fix the problems, Marine commanders have suspended those personnel under investigation for alleged hazing and abusing of recruits and enacted a zero-tolerance policy for hazing among drill instructors. They also are boosting officer supervision of training and reviewing mental health processes, procedures and suicide-prevention protocols.
Three senior Marines at the installation have lost their positions in the wake of Siddiqui’s death, officials said in June.
Each year, about 19,000 recruits go to Parris Island for 12 weeks of training. The depot trains male recruits from east of the Mississippi River and all female Marine recruits.
