Posted on 03/23/2005 6:45:34 PM PST by Flavius
Students are beaten to death for playing music as Shia militiamen run amok THE students had begun to lay out their picnic in the spring sunshine when the men attacked.
“There were dozens of them, armed with guns, and they poured into the park,” Ali al-Azawi, 21, the engineering student who had organised the gathering in Basra, said.
“They started shouting at us that we were immoral, that we were meeting boys and girls together and playing music and that this was against Islam.
“They began shooting in the air and people screamed. Then, with one order, they began beating us with their sticks and rifle butts.” Two students were said to have been killed.
Standing over them as the blows rained down was the man who gave the order, dressed in dark clerical garb and wearing a black turban. Ali recognised him immediately as a follower of Hojatoleslam Moqtada al-Sadr, the radical Shia cleric. Ali realised then that the armed men were members of Hojatoleslam al-Sadr’s Mehdi Army, a private militia that fought American forces last year and is now enforcing its own firebrand version of Islam.
The picnic had run foul of the Islamist powers that increasingly hold sway in the fly-blown southern city, where religious militias rule the streets, forcing women to don the veil and closing down shops that sell alcohol or music.
In the election in January, the battle between secular and religious forces in Basra came down to the ballot box. The main Shia alliance triumphed with 70 per cent of the province’s vote, most of the rest going to a secular rival.
That victory has brought to a head the issue of whether Iraq’s new constitution will adopt Islamic law — or Sharia — as most religious Shia leaders desire.
In Basra, however, Islamic militias already are beginning to apply their own version of that law, without authority from above or any challenge from the police.
Students say that there was nothing spontaneous about the attack. Police were guarding the picnic in the park, as is customary at any large public gathering, but allowed the armed men in without any resistance.
One brought a video camera to record the sinful spectacle of the picnic, footage of which was later released to the public as a warning to others.
It showed images of one girl struggling as a gunman ripped her blouse off, leaving her half-naked. “We will send these pictures to your parents so they can see how you were dancing naked with men,” a gunman told her. Two students who went to her aid were shot — one in the leg, the other twice in the stomach. The latter was said to have died of his injuries. Fellow students say that the girl later committed suicide. Another girl who was severely beaten around the head lost her sight.
Far from disavowing the attack, senior al-Sadr loyalists said that they had a duty to stop the students’ “dancing, sexy dress and corruption”.
“We beat them because we are authorised by Allah to do so and that is our duty,” Sheik Ahmed al-Basri said after the attack. “It is we who should deal with such disobedience and not the police.”
After escaping with two students, Ali reached a police station and asked for help. “What do you expect me to do about it?” a uniformed officer asked.
Islam in a nutshell-
“We beat them because we are authorised by Allah to do so and that is our duty,” Sheik Ahmed al-Basri said after the attack.
CONVERT THEM TO CHRISTIANITY!
Iran style indeed.
Hopefully the publicity of what's going on in Basra will result in some action against these al-Sadr loyalists. They need to nip this in the bud.
Or, the kids trying to have a party, should be armed as well.
Think beasty boys had a song about it, something about You have to Fight for your right to party...
"CONVERT THEM TO CHRISTIANITY! "
Yeah - make 'em into Catholics!!
No, that is a fanatic speaking.
I just love Islam, the religion and lifestyle with a kind, loving, compassionate and tolerant heart and mind. Doesn't Iran sound like a fun kinda place? The whole middle East is a toilet, flush it.
Before we "convert them to Christianity" remember the other part, "kill their leaders" and lets do that first and soon.
"Or, the kids trying to have a party, should be armed as well."
Well, lots of citizens have guns in Iraq. Not so in Iran, unfortunately.
If it was rap, I don't blame them.
"And everyone else who doesn't practice Islam, can be normal and have a picnic."
What do you think the religion is of the majority of picnic-goers in Iraq?
Do you know there are different sects within the religion who believe and interpret differently? Have you read about sufis?
Well, many in Iraq don't practice their religion.
I actually had an arguement with about 5 people (which I lost) on another thread over whether or not Islam was a non-violent religion. I can post a link to it if you would like and you can go through it. I made every single point possible. But I got killed.
I understand. I would really love to believe that Islam is peaceful. Unfortunately, the more I learn about it the more I realize that it is a violent religion. For example, Mohammad had a 6 year old wife who he had sex with when she was 9. he had slaves, women slaves. he was no Jesus.
How do you know they don't practice their religion? I sincerely doubt that.
They've just been given the freedom to practice their religion.
Jihadist thugs on the loose.
There is variety in the religion and how it's practiced, as there is variety in most religions.
Yes, actually I have. Sufis have Christian and Hindu elements to their religion. And Sufis are a small minority and are not really considered true Muslims.
I'm glad to see you did read Ali Sina's website. Somehow things will work out in regards to Islam. I hope.
"are not really considered true Muslims"
According to whom? Sufis consider themselves muslim.
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