New York, NY, February 9, 2006 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) expressed concern that the U.S. Air Force Revised Interim Guidelines on Religion in the Military ("Guidelines") released today, while maintaining substantial religious accommodation protections, are a significant step backwards from the June 2005 draft guidelines with respect to religious coercion, proselytizing and harassment.

Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director, said, "Taken as a whole, these revisions significantly undermine the much-needed steps the Air Force has already taken to address the religious intolerance at the US Air Force Academy.  Unfortunately, they reopen the door to the serious and prevalent misconduct which the USAF acknowledged and said it would correct."

Mr. Foxman added, "This is a lost opportunity to establish meaningful guidelines that would serve as a much-needed model not only for the Air Force but for all the branches of military service."

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.