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A soldier who served in Iraq is suing the U.S. Defense Department for violating his religious freedom, claiming he was discriminated against because he is an atheist.
Army Specialist Jeremy Hall said that his non-Christian identity cost him his military career and put his life at risk.
He also claims he was passed up for a promotion because he refused to pray with troops.
"I was told because I can't put my personal beliefs aside and pray with troops I wouldn't make a good leader," Hall told CNN in a sit-down interview.
Hall said he was raised a Baptist but left his faith after being confronted by atheists on the Bible.
He said that after his faith change, he received threats by other troops and the military assigned him a full-time bodyguard. He also referenced an incident from two years ago when he was asked to sit at another table after he declined to pray before Thanksgiving dinner.
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Hall told CNN that he isn't seeking compensation from the suit but the guarantee of religious freedom in the military.
While the Pentagon has declined to discuss the specifics of Hall's case, citing litigation, Deputy Undersecretary Bill Carr affirmed to CNN that such constitutional rights are already being upheld by the Pentagon.
"If an atheist chose to follow their convictions, absolutely that's acceptable," said Carr. "And that's a point of religious accommodation in department policy, one may hold whatever faith, or may hold no faith."
The U.S. Department of Defense and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, among others, are named as defendants in Hall's suit.
The U.S. Justice Department is expected to issue a response this week.
