Soldier arrested for speaking out against the Afghan war

Generals are free to speak to the media to defend sending soldiers to war but when a soldier speaks out he faces ten years in prison.

Lance Corporal Joe Glenton, the soldier who faces desertion charges for refusing to return to Afghanistan, has been arrested and charged with five further offences for speaking out in opposition to the presence of troops in Afghanistan.

The charges allege that he led the Stop the War demonstration in London on 24 October and that he has spoken to the press in defiance of orders. The new charges carry a maximum of ten years imprisonment in addition to the sentence of three to four years that Joe could get if the desertion charge is upheld.

The army commanders are clearly worried by Joe’s determination to explain his stance against the war in Afghanistan. Following his presence on the anti-war demonstration many of his fellow soldiers told him they agreed with what he was doing.

Lance Corporal Glenton remains determined in his opposition to the war in Afghanistan, notwithstanding the attempts to silence him. Stop the War will be campaigning for Joe's immediate release and an end to attempts to curtail his freedom of speech.

"This is not about breach of military regulations," said Stop the War convenor Lindsey German. "In the last few days a range of military personnel have been speaking in the media in defence of this appalling war. I doubt any of them have been arrested. This is about the persecution of a soldier who believes in telling the truth in accordance with his conscience. He is saying what the majority of the population believe; this war is unwinnable and immoral. The anti-war movement will be doing everything possible to get Joe released."

How to support Lance Corporal Joe Glenton

• Email: Secretary of State for Defence Bob Ainsworth: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
• Write: Secretary of State for Defence, Floor 5, Main Building, Whitehall, London, SW1A 2HB • FAX: 020 7218 6538
• Petition: Download the Defend Joe Glenton petition...
• Messages of support: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it