Case 225
Raheel Siddiqui
The United States Marine Corps is known for its tight-knit culture, as solidified in their motto, ‘Semper Fidelis,‘ which means ‘Always Faithful.’ 20-year-old Raheel Siddiqui was looking for his next move in life. A brilliant student, he determined that joining the Marine Corps would be a great way to pursue his dreams while also serving his country.
In March 2016, Raheel arrived at the Parris Island recruit depot in South Carolina, ready to undergo a gruelling 13-week training program. But when he crossed paths with a drill instructor named Joseph Felix, things went terribly wrong.
CREDITS
EPISODE:
Research & writing – Erin Munro
Creative direction – Milly Raso
Narration – Anonymous Host
MUSIC:
‘Flatline intro’ and ‘Come play with me’ intro and outro – www.dl-sounds.com
Audio production – Mike Migas
Scoring – Mike Migas and Andrew Joslyn
OTHER:
Logo and website design – Paulina Szymanska
PREMIUM
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RESOURCES
ARTICLES
How the death of a Muslim recruit revealed a culture of brutality in the Marines – New York Times
Following a Marine recruit’s death, a culture of hazing is exposed on a storied base – The Washington Post
‘What happens in the squad bay stays in the squad bay’: Marines testify about Muslim recruit’s suicide – The Washington Post
Muslim recruit called a “terrorist” and hazed commits suicide, now up to 20 Marines face discipline – Salon
He’s accused of abusing Muslims training to be Marines – NDTV.com
Drill instructor gets 10 years behind bars for Parris Island hazing scandal – Marine Corps Times
DI who hazed Muslim recruits gets 10 years, dishonourable discharge – Military.com
‘Drunk on power’: Did Marine drill instructor torment Muslim recruits? – Military.com
Marine drill instructor Joseph Felix sentenced to 10 years for abusing recruits – cbsnews.com
Supreme Court won’t hear wrongful death claim in case of Michigan Marine recruit – Detroit Free Press
‘A hate crime’: Government asks for 7 years in Marine hazing case – Military.com
NEWSPAPER ARTICLES
Father’s letter foreshadows slew of hazing allegations against DIs at Parris Island – The Island Packet
Marines are still haunted by their ‘monster in the closet’ – The Island Packet
Private Mich. funeral service held for Parris Island recruit – The Island Packet
Family questions info on death – The Beaufort Gazette
Marine Corps commandant asked about hazing in Parris Island death – The Beaufort Gazette
Marines investigating death of Taylor recruit – Detroit Free Press
NCIS looks into death of Marine recruit – The Island Packet
Marines probe haze claims against Parris I. drill chiefs – The Palm Beach Post
Marines expand probe of death of Muslim man from Michigan – Lansing State Journal
USMC: Recruit’s death at Parris Island a suicide – The Island Packet
Recruit’s family: death wasn’t suicide – Detroit Free Press
What really happened to Marine recruit? – Detroit Free Press
Hazing, abuse didn’t stop – The Beaufort Gazette
Charges are possible soon in death of Muslim Marine recruit – The Times Herald
Marines set hearing on charges related to Michigan recruit’s death – Detroit Free Press
Hearing related to Parris Island recruit’s death rescheduled – The Island Packet
Marines to court-martial drill sergeant in death case – The Times Herald
Dingell demands change in cause of recruit’s death – Lansing State Journal
Answers may never come in son’s death – Detroit Free Press
Family sues government for $100M in recruit’s death – The Beaufort Gazette
Muslim former recruit at Parris Island testifies in court-martial – The Beaufort Gazette
Recruits: Siddiqui called a terrorist – Detroit Free Press
Witness: Sgt targeted recruit before death – Battle Creek Enquirer
Drill sergeant found guilty – Detroit Free Press
Marine officer pleads guilty for failures in recruit death – The Greenville News
Suit over recruit’s death is tossed – Detroit Free Press
Judge dismisses lawsuit over Parris Island death – The State
VIDEOS
911 call: Recruit jumps from third storey deck
AUDIO
Family of Muslim Marine recruit speaks out about his death – WBUR
Raheel Siddiqui family and lawyer: Marine recruit’s death “not caused by any misconduct of his own” – NPR
WEBSITES
Wikipedia – United States Marine Corps
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