A BRITISH soldier facing a court martial is speaking out publicly in East London this-evening against the war in Afghanistan. Joe Glenton joins speakers at Whitechapel’s Davenant Centre putting the case for a withdrawal of British troops

Soldier facing court martial speaks out against Afghan war

A BRITISH soldier facing a court martial is speaking out publicly in East London this-evening against the war in Afghanistan.

Lance Corporal Joe Glenton joins speakers at Whitechapel's Davenant Centre putting the case for a withdrawal of British troops.

He went absent without leave in 2007 after serving in Afghanistan and is due to face a court martial next month over his refusal to fight.

Glenton wrote a letter to the Prime Minister stating: "When British military personnel submit themselves to the service of the nation and put their bodies in harm's way, the Government that sends them into battle is obliged to ensure the cause is just and right."

He joins a panel tonight that includes outspoken Labour MP Jeremy Corbyn, Stop the War Coalition's convenor Lindsey German and Muslim Council of Britain's deputy secretary general Dr Daud Abdullah.

The meeting is ahead of Saturday's demonstration in central London organised by the anti-war coalition.