WASHINGTON (JTA) — The Reform Movement sought clarifications from the Pentagon on the treatment of the soldier accused in a massive leaks case.
The letter sent Tuesday by Reform’s Religious Action Center to Defense Secretary Robert Gates noted "incomplete" reports in the media about the treatment of Pfc. Bradley Manning, 22, who allegedly is behind leaks of classified documents last year to WikiLeaks.
Some of the reports have suggested that Manning is forced to sleep naked and to stand naked outside his cell each morning.
"We in no way condone criminal activity, or the crimes that Pfc. Manning has been accused of, including transferring classified data to his computer and aiding the enemy," said the letter from Mark Pelavin, the Religious Action Center’s associate director.
"At the same time, we condemn torture, which is harmful to the individual being tortured as well as to the person carrying out the torture. As Jews, we believe that everyone, even prisoners, is created b’tzelem elohim – in the image of God – and as such is entitled to be treated with dignity and respect.
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