MUSLIM HATE OF CHILDREN
Cleric supports targeting children
By Rajeev Syal
(Filed: 05/09/2004)
An extremist Islamic cleric based in Britain said yesterday that he would support hostage-taking at British schools if carried out by terrorists with a just cause.
Omar Bakri Mohammed, the spiritual leader of the extremist sect al-Muhajiroun, said that holding women and children hostage would be a reasonable course of action for a Muslim who has suffered under British rule.
In an interview with The Sunday Telegraph, Mr Mohammed said: "If an Iraqi Muslim carried out an attack like that in Britain, it would be justified because Britain has carried out acts of terrorism in Iraq.
"As long as the Iraqi did not deliberately kill women and children, and they were killed in the crossfire, that would be okay."
Mr Mohammed, 44, who lives in Edmonton, north London, but is originally from Syria, also claimed that the Chechen rebels were not responsible for the deaths of more than 350 people - at least half of them children - who are so far known to have died in Beslan.
"The Mujahideen [Chechen rebels] would not have wanted to kill those people, because it is strictly forbidden as a Muslim to deliberately kill women and children. It is the fault of the Russians," he said.
The father of seven came to Britain in 1985 after being deported from Saudi Arabia because of his membership of a banned group. He has since been given leave by the Home Office to remain in Britain for five years but the Government is reviewing his status.
He gave an interview yesterday to promote a "celebratory" conference in London next Saturday to commemorate the third anniversary of the September 11 attacks.
Andrew Dismore, the Labour MP for Hendon, was infuriated by Mr Mohammed's comments. "That sounds to me like incitement and I will report him to Scotland Yard," he said. "It is an insult to most moderate Muslims, who are sick of people like this claiming to represent them."
Thursday, July 14, 2005
Bomber targets Iraqi children
At least 18 children and one U.S. soldier die after suicide bomber attacks
soldiers passing out candy in Baghdad.
By LARRY KAPLOW
Cox News Service
BAGHDAD, Iraq A suicide car bomber struck U.S. soldiers handing out candy to a crowd of Iraqi kids on Wednesday in an attack that killed at least 18 children and teenagers and one American soldier. In all, 27 people died in the blast.
Horrified parents in the Baghdad neighborhood rushed to the scene to find the street scattered with children's bodies, dazed and injured soldiers, children's sandals and a broken bicycle. The explosion injured an additional 70 people, including a newborn and three U.S. soldiers, and shattered windows and blew down nearby walls.
Twelve of the dead were 13 or younger, said police Lt. Mohammed Jassim Jabr. Among the wounded was 4-day-old Miriam Jabber, cut slightly by flying glass and debris.
"There were some American troops blocking the highway when a U.S. Humvee came near a gathering of children," said Karim Shukir, 42. The troops began handing out candy and smiley-face key chains.
"Suddenly, a speeding car bomb ... struck both the Humvee and the children," Shukir said.
The area is a predominately Shiite neighborhood of Baghdad. The slaughter of so many Shiite children is likely to raise tensions further between the majority Shiites - who dominate the government - and the minority Sunni Arabs, the foundation of the insurgency.
Army Lt. Col. Kevin Farrell said his troops had cordoned off the area near a highway to conduct searches when the bomber drove up a side alley. Unable to reach the bulk of U.S. forces, he detonated his vehicle in the crowd of children, witnesses said.
"The scene was almost indescribable," Farrell said. "People nearest the blast, some were literally obliterated on the scene. Multiple lacerations and traumatic amputations. At least nine people I saw were killed instantly in a most horrific fashion."
It was the second major bombing this week, and highlighted the continuing dangers and difficulties of interaction between Iraqi civilians and U.S. troops, who have grown increasingly isolated in their bases more than two years after the invasion of Iraq.
Iraqi children are on their summer break from schools and often play in the streets. It is a common practice for soldiers to distribute candy and other treats when meeting Iraqi children.
Kareem Shakur al-Dulaime's house, which is next to the blast site, was badly damaged. His wife and two children in the home were injured and two of his children in the street were hospitalized, but not seriously hurt.
The soldiers "prompt these things," he said. "They moved terrorism to Iraq. They brought Iraq's enemies to Iraq. They made this a battlefield."
At al-Kindi hospital, where many victims were taken, a mother blamed the insurgents. "May God curse the mujahedeen and their leader," she said.
"My son was lucky - he was injured by a piece of shrapnel that lodged in his head. All the rest of his friends died," Abu Mohammed said.
Army spokesmen condemned the attack and said interaction between troops and civilians will continue. Friendly Iraqis often wave at troops or approach them to pass on tips about insurgent activity, U.S. military officials said.
"Part of what we do is to interact with the public to help to tear down those perceived barriers between the Iraqi people and the U.S.-coalition forces," military spokesman Lt. Col. Steven Boylan said. "This horrific attack against children continues to bring home to everyone that the terrorists offer nothing of value or future for the Iraqi people. To attack children in this matter goes against all that is good and proper in the world."
In the months after the spring 2003 U.S.-led invasion, soldiers commonly bought sodas and cigarettes in Iraqi groceries and talked to Iraqis. The frequency of such close contacts was greatly reduced as the Sunni-led insurgency gathered momentum.
A recent audiotape attributed to al-Qaida leader Abu Musab al Zarqawi stated that killing civilians was permissible in the war against U.S. troops and the Iraqi government.
U.S. officials announced Tuesday that they had captured Abu Abd al-Aziz, who they said was Zarqawi's top commander for Baghdad. Zarqawi and his followers are responsible most of the car bombings that target Iraqis and U.S. troops, U.S. officials said.
In September 2004, about 35 children were killed in a multiple bombing when soldiers were giving them treats at the opening of a water plant.
Wednesday's bombing left a shallow crater scattered with injured residents and embedded with engine parts in the asphalt street in the al-Khaleej neighborhood of eastern Baghdad. One house had caught on fire and others had large portions of exterior walls blown away.
Hours after the blast, some of the wounded returned to their homes in the neighborhoods that had been hurt by shrapnel, and swept up glass and brick.
Violence against Afghan Children Rises, Worries UN
By Maha Saad
Voice of America
United Nations
07 July 2008
A United Nations official says that violence against children is on the rise in Afghanistan, warning that children are being used as suicide bombers and young boys are being sexually abused. VOA's U.N. correspondent Margaret Besheer has the story by intern Maha Saad.
The U.N.
Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, Radhika Coomaraswamy,
just back from a five-day visit to Afghanistan, warns that the deteriorating
security situation in the country is becoming a growing danger for children. She
says armed groups, including the Taliban, are recruiting minors to serve as
soldiers, munitions carriers and even as suicide bombers.
"Afghan sources confirm that children under 18 are being recruited into the
Taliban and other anti-government forces," said Radhika Coomaraswamy. "There has
been a surge in the last few months. Children are being used even as suicide
bombers."
Coomaraswamy says although there have been minimal reports of sexual violence
against girls in Afghanistan's Muslim society, there have been reports that boys
are being sexually abused by warlords and mujahadeen fighters.
"We are particularly concerned about what has been called the 'bacha bazi'[boy-play]
system or practice where there are young boys increasingly associated with
military commanders," she said.
Coomaraswamy is urging the Afghan government, the Taliban and other
anti-government groups to respect the safety and dignity of children.