Toronto
Canadian immigration officials denied asylum to a U.S. soldier who refused to fight in Iraq. Jeremy Hinzman, 26, said he was “unwilling to kill babies,” although he would have been happy to serve in a noncombat role. Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Board said Hinzman was not a true conscientious objector, because he would have refused to serve in any capacity if he really believed the war was “unjust” and “illegal.” Hinzman’s lawyer said as many as a hundred American soldiers had fled to Canada since the war began, in 2003, although Hinzman was the first to request asylum. If returned to the U.S., he could face five years in prison for desertion.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.
Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.
