Petition demands US soldiers protect young boys from being raped in Afghanistan

A conservative group lodged a petition to the U.S. Congress to approve legislation that would mandate American soldiers to defend human rights, including child abuse.

The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ), an organization that seeks to protect civil liberties and the rule of law, pushes for the legislation of Rep. Duncan Hunter's H.R. 4717 or the "Mandating America's Responsibility to Limit Abuse, Negligence, and Depravity (MARTLAND) Act."

H.R. 4717 aims to continue the fight against child abuse exposed by reinstated Green Beret Sergeant First Class Charles Martland. He faced criticism and was almost discharged from duty last year for intervening in an Afghan ally's practice that allowed the systematic rape of young Afghan boys.

The said practice, "bacha bazi" or "boy play," dresses up young boys as women before they are molested by American allies, Pashtun warlords.

ACLJ hailed the reinstatement of SFC Martland, whom it has since declared as an American hero, after amassing almost 350,000 signatories that sought to prevent his expulsion from the Army.

"However, the underlying problem remains," wrote ACLJ. "Children continue to suffer abuse in areas of the world where our military exerts influence."

"Even more troubling, there is no evidence that the U.S. has altered its policy in order to allow for intervention on behalf of these children," it added.

The Defense Department faced criticism last year especially when Hunter disputed the Army's decision to end Martland's 11-year decorated career. The public attention forced Pentagon to issue a statement denying claims that they instructed soldiers to "look the other way."

However, they're also not required to report cases of child rape, said a spokesman for U.S. forces in Afghanistan.

"[T]here would be no express requirement that U.S. military personnel in Afghanistan report it," Col. Brian Tribus told Fox News in a statement.

Aside from a new petition that already garnered more than 157,000 signatories, ACLJ also urged the House Armed Services Committee in a letter to approve H.R. 4717.

"No child should be abused," ACLJ declared. "No American service member should suffer for doing what is morally right. Join us in defending this hero and stopping child sexual abuse."