Case 225

Raheel Siddiqui

*** Content Warning: hazing, racism, suicide ***

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

 

Casefile Presents

 

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

 

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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

ParrisIsland.com

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