15 Facts About Jeremy Hinzman

Jeremy Dean Hinzman was born on 1979 and is an Iraq War resister who was the first American deserter to seek refugee status in Canada.

Jeremy Hinzman said he sought refugee status because he opposed the war in Iraq on moral grounds and argued the US invasion violated international human rights standards.

Jeremy Hinzman voluntarily joined the US Army early in 2001, completing basic combat training and airborne school in Fort Benning, Georgia.

Jeremy Hinzman's unit was deployed to take part in the war in Afghanistan later in 2002.

Jeremy Hinzman fulfilled a non-combat role there while his conscientious objector application was being processed.

When his unit received orders to join in the Iraq War, Jeremy Hinzman deserted, crossing the border into Canada with his wife and son.

Jeremy Hinzman filed a refugee claim upon his arrival in Canada, in January 2004.

Jeremy Hinzman was one of at least 28 soldiers actively seeking refugee status in Canada after deserting the United States military out of opposition to the Iraq conflict.

Jeremy Hinzman has drawn criticism, and during his hearing stated that he has received death threats from American citizens.

Amnesty International considers Mr Jeremy Hinzman to have a genuine conscientious objection to serving as a combatant in the US forces in Iraq.

Jeremy Hinzman ruled [November 12,2004] that Hinzman may not use the legal basis of the Iraq War to justify his.

Jeremy Hinzman urged the government to support a motion passed earlier that year by all parties, except the Conservatives, to let all eligible conscientious objectors take up permanent residence.

Jeremy Hinzman enlisted voluntarily in the Army, volunteered for infantry duty, and further volunteered for airborne training, a series of deliberate and conscious decisions on Jeremy Hinzman's part which would practically guarantee combat duty.

Such critics have suggested that, if Jeremy Hinzman were sincere in his beliefs, he would return to the United States voluntarily and accept whatever consequences his actions and beliefs might bring about.

Key to this discussion are three questions: whether soldiers are legally allowed to change their minds if they encounter new information; whether Jeremy Hinzman encountered new information; and at what point in his service did Jeremy Hinzman acquire new information.