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Raheel Siddiqui (Facebook photo)
Twenty Marine Corps personnel face possible discipline or criminal charges following a probe into the suspected suicide of Marine recruit Raheel Siddiqui, a 20-year-old Muslim from Taylor.
The investigation found the Metro Detroit of Pakistani heritage was physically abused and called a "terrorist by his drill sergeant at Paris Island, S.C., the Detroit Free Press reports.
“Today’s announcement by the Marine Corps is a first step in ensuring the family of Private Raheel Siddiqui receives the answers they deserve and that the Marine Corps is addressing the serious issues that led to this tragedy," says U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell. [Full statement below]
"I am grateful for the seriousness with which the Marine Corps has carried out this investigation to date," she adds, "but it is critical that the process continue to be conducted in a manner that is thorough and ensures all those who are responsible are held accountable."
Son of immigrants, Siddiqui was a class valedictorian and a robotics and engineering student at the University of Michigan’s Dearborn campus, the paper reports. He was recruited by the Marines on campus. He had hoped to become an FBI agent.
Marine officials told the Free Press Thursday that Siddiqui’s death was a suicide as initially reported by the Corps, but an alleged assault by his drill sergeant, who forced Siddiqui to repeatedly run the length of a squad bay and slapped him, was the likely impetus for his jumping over a wall and falling three floors to his death in a stairwell on March 18.
Siddiqui had threatened suicide days before his death but was still returned to training, with others in his company failing to report allegations he had made of physical abuse, Marine officials said in the Freep story by Todd Spangler and Niraj Warikoo. Siddiqui had been just 11 days into his training at Parris Island, S.C., when he died.
The family has previously expressed skepticism that that the death was a suicide.
Shiraz Kha, the attorney for the family, released a statement Thursday on their behalf to the Free Press, saying there are still "too many questions that remain answered."
"In light of the recent release by the United States Marine Corps Command Investigation into the facts and circumstances surrounding the death...the Siddiqui family and their lawyer...are currently reviewing the findings and will determine their next course of action."
The Wall Street Journal first reported on this Thursday.
Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Dearborn
Congresswoman Dingell's statement:
'A son, brother and class valedictorian'
Today, Marine Corps Commandant General Robert B. Neller met with Dingell in her office to inform her that upon completion of the investigation, twenty Recruit Training Regiment personnel have been identified for possible military justice or administrative action. The investigations revealed deviations from established policies and procedures for Marine Corps recruit training.
Today’s announcement by the Marine Corps is a first step in ensuring the family of Private Raheel Siddiqui receives the answers they deserve and that the Marine Corps is addressing the serious issues that led to this tragedy. I am grateful for the seriousness with which the Marine Corps has carried out this investigation to date, but it is critical that the process continue to be conducted in a manner that is thorough and ensures all those who are responsible are held accountable.
Private Siddiqui was a son, brother and class valedictorian who believed this country represented freedom and opportunity. As a young Muslim man, he truly understood the value of freedom of religion, and all he wanted was to defend the ideals our nation holds dear. This weekend, I will visit Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island to see firsthand the recruit training process, meet with the new leadership and learn about the changes that are being implemented to ensure a tragedy like this never happens again.
This is the very least the Siddiqui family – and the thousands of families across our country whose children serve in uniform – deserve.
