She went to her death in honor and shame

St. Petersburg Times ^ | May 31, 2003 | "By Associated Press"

[knuthom]

An Iraqi woman is hailed for attacking U.S. troops - and condemned for leaving the house without permission. -------------------------------------------------------

ZAQANIYAH, Iraq - There were few tears for Iman Salih Mutlak at her wake. She is a hero to some - a martyr who tried to kill U.S. soldiers with grenades, then died in a hail of their bullets - but her family feels nothing but shame.

Their rage comes not because of her planned attack, but because the 22-year-old woman left the house alone and without permission from her father - thereby besmirching the honor of her tribe.

"When she left the house, she lost her innocence," said her 71-year-old father, Salih Mutlak. "Had she returned home, I would have killed her myself and drunk her blood."

The tribal laws that have ruled the villages of Iraq for centuries say a man can take the life of a daughter or sister if he feels she has betrayed the family's honor. In this deeply conservative culture, Mutlak did just that by going out without permission.

So the family says nothing about how she really died. To hide their shame, they maintain she died during surgery to remove her appendix.

The truth, which they eventually acknowledged to the Associated Press, is far different.

The coroner who performed Mutlak's autopsy wrote on her death certificate that she died of gunshot wounds - 10 of them - on May 25.

That day, American soldiers in the town of Baqubah, 12 miles southwest of this village, shot a young woman they said was carrying grenades and trying to approach them.

That woman was Mutlak, who has earned the admiration of many in Baqubah who see the Americans as an unwelcome occupation force.

But what exactly happened is still blurry. Why would Mutlak, a peasant with little education who was never permitted to leave home alone, attack the soldiers? She was not involved in politics, and there is no evidence she was recruited by militants.

Capt. Josh Felker, public affairs officer for the division's 2nd Brigade, says Mutlak approached a U.S. checkpoint with grenades in her hands and wrapped around her waist.

As she walked forward, U.S. soldiers told her to stop, motioning for her to hit the ground. When she continued, they fired a warning shot and yelled for her to stop.

Soldiers heard something like a "rock hitting the ground and then an explosion," Felker said - apparently a grenade going off.

The soldiers opened fire, but she still didn't stop. "She was limping or crawling, but was still coming at them," Felker said. "Within our rules of engagement, we defended ourselves and took appropriate measures."

Some Iraqi witnesses in a nearby office said they heard no explosion.

They say the soldiers called for the woman to stop as she walked toward them, and when she kept walking they shot her. They said Mutlak was not carrying grenades - though they offered no evidence - and say the Americans claimed that to justify their act.

To some in Baqubah, Mutlak is a martyr - a hero in their struggle against the Americans. Since Saddam Hussein's ouster, U.S. soldiers have repeatedly come under attack in Iraq. Just this week, at least nine Americans died, five of them in attacks or ambushes, and two dozen were wounded.

"To us, any foreigner who comes here is an occupier, not a liberator," said Mohammed al-Ahmad. "We don't want them to liberate us. They have come to take our oil."

American soldiers disagree. But even Felker acknowledged the situation could be seen from different angles.

"She was doing what she believed in. In my view, she was wrong," he said. But he acknowledged that Mutlak was "just like me - I'm willing to die for what I'm doing here."

The family is worried about retribution. "We are afraid of the Americans," her father said. "We are afraid they would kill us."

Her older sister, Salwa, said Mutlak was an unhappy loner with no friends,and possibly mentally disturbed. "If she had brains, she wouldn't have attacked a tank," said Salwa Mutlak, 30, who exhibited a cold sadness at losing her sister.

The sisters shared a room where they prayed, read the Koran and watched television. The younger sister liked sad Egyptian movies.

Salwa Mutlak said that on Sunday, when she and her mother awakened from an afternoon nap, her sister was nowhere to be seen.

"It was the first time she had left the house on her own," said Salwa.

But how did the young woman arrive at a U.S. army position in Baqubah? If she was carrying grenades, how did she get them? Was someone else behind the attack? Was she duped?

The only clue is the brief note she wrote her parents. Written in pencil in a child's handwriting and in poor Arabic, it gives few answers.

"Dear father, dear mother,

"I am going to carry out a martyrdom operation for the sake of God and for Islam and Muslims.

"Your sincere daughter, Iman."

[knuthom]

Two things struck me in this article. First, the fact that the "Iraqi witnesses" insist that she had no grenades, even though she left a "martyrdom" note. The existence of the note supports the soldiers version.

Second, the comments of her father:
"When she left the house, she lost her innocence," said her 71-year-old father, Salih Mutlak. "Had she returned home, I would have killed her myself and drunk her blood."

How can we expect a culture like this to adapt to and embrace democratic principles?

[DHerion]

The man is 71. Our hope has to be with the younger generations in Iraq and also Iran. Time will tell.

[Redbob]

"...because the 22-year-old woman left the house alone and without permission from her father - thereby besmirching the honor of her tribe.

"When she left the house, she lost her innocence," said her 71-year-old father, Salih Mutlak. "Had she returned home, I would have killed her myself and drunk her blood."

This is a civilization?

Just because they walk upright and appear to use language doesn't mean that Iraq has "civilization."

What they call a "tribe" I'd be more inclined to call a "pack" - except that even wolves seem to have more sense than they.

[Cindy]

A closer look at females with an attitude...

ISLAM ONLINE.net - Fatwa Application - "ASK THE SCHOLAR" - Topic: "MARTYR OPERATIONS CARRIED OUT BY THE PALESTINIANS" (May 22, 2003)

ISLAM ONLINE.net - Fatwa Application - "ASK THE SCHOLAR" - Topic: "PALESTINIAN WOMEN CARRYING OUT MARTYR OPERATIONS" (May 22, 2003)

ISLAMIC AWAKENING DISCUSSION BOARD: JIHAAD: "THE STORY OF OUR SISTER HIBA - MUST READ" -Posted by Umm Azzam (Umm_Azzam@ahlussunnah.net) (May 28, 2003)

ISLAMIC AWAKENING DISCUSSION BOARD: JIHAAD: "SISTERS' ROLE IN JIHAD (NOT HAJJ)" -Posted by Ibn.2 (May 1, 2003)

"Geocities.com/PRINCESSTALIBAN/JIHADWOMEN.html"

"PRINCESSTALIBAN.shorturl.com"

GOOGLE Search Term: "JIHAD WOMEN"

[tet68]

Imagine, she was 22 and this was the first time she had left the house alone.

Tribes! We may HAVE to subdue them in order to bring about change.

[Khurkris]

Lol...damned if ya do, damned if ya don't. Martyr 'em All, ignorant shites. Hearts & minds just ain't gonna work here.

[Cindy]

"Capt. Josh Felker, public affairs officer for the division's 2nd Brigade, says Mutlak approached a U.S. checkpoint with grenades in her hands and wrapped around her waist.

As she walked forward, U.S. soldiers told her to stop, motioning for her to hit the ground. When she continued, they fired a warning shot and yelled for her to stop.Soldiers heard something like a "rock hitting the ground and then an explosion," Felker said - apparently a grenade going off.

The soldiers opened fire, but she still didn't stop. "She was limping or crawling, but was still coming at them," Felker said. "Within our rules of engagement, we defended ourselves and took appropriate measures.""

[eggman]

One thing struck me about this article:
The tribal laws that have ruled the villages of Iraq for centuries say a man can take the life of a daughter or sister if he feels she has betrayed the family's honor. In this deeply conservative culture, Mutlak did just that by going out without permission.

Conservative? Call it insane, backward, Islamic fundamentalism but it is not conservative!

[beaversmom]

Her older sister, Salwa, said Mutlak was an unhappy loner with no friends,and possibly mentally disturbed. "If she had brains, she wouldn't have attacked a tank," said Salwa Mutlak, 30, who exhibited a cold sadness at losing her sister.

And this makes her different from the rest of the Arabs in what way? Okay, I know there are a few non-deranged, smart ones out there, but they are few and far between.

[Darheel]

"She is a hero to some - a martyr who tried to kill U.S. soldiers with grenades".

A Fascist hero, and beloved by Democrats no doubt. Hated by the free, her death was in vain.

[LTCJ]

"Capt. Josh Felker, public affairs officer for the division's 2nd Brigade,..."

What division? The article doesn't say. More inept reporting on the military by the clueless.

I loath the press.

[spodefly]

22 year old female suicide bombers and the fathers that would kill them and drink their blood ... on the next Donahue show!

[Tacis]

Isn't this the honey that most of the guys in the 3rd platoon, 2nd regiment of the El-Halifi Iraqi Camel Corp were banging? I heard she was even doing some of camels.

[Cindy]

""Dear father, dear mother,

"I am going to carry out a martyrdom operation for the sake of God and for Islam and Muslims.

"Your sincere daughter, Iman.""

[ambrose]

"When she left the house, she lost her innocence," said her 71-year-old father, Salih Mutlak. "Had she returned home, I would have killed her myself and drunk her blood."

So, I take a few weeks off from Freeping, but it appears that nothing has changed on the Religion of Peace front...

[SarahW]

"When she left the house, she lost her innocence," said her 71-year-old father, Salih Mutlak. "Had she returned home, I would have killed her myself and drunk her blood."

As Stan and Kyle might say, That's F*'d up right there.

[FITZ]

Her older sister, Salwa, said Mutlak was an unhappy loner with no friends,and possibly mentally disturbed. "If she had brains, she wouldn't have attacked a tank,"

Sort of like that American ---I forgot her name ---who went to Israel and thought she could attack a bulldozer.

[FITZ]

"When she left the house, she lost her innocence," said her 71-year-old father, Salih Mutlak. "Had she returned home, I would have killed her myself and drunk her blood."

At least they can't be too upset about her being dead since they'd have killed her anyhow. Maybe about the blood that went to waste.

[Maceman]

22 year old female suicide bombers and the fathers that would kill them and drink their blood ... on the next Donahue show!

Ain't gonna be no next Donaue show (mercifully).

But LOL.

[aSkeptic]

That is a well detailed story. Good find.

[Catspaw]

Rachel Corrie from the International Solidarity Movement.

[Bon mots]

Hearts and minds? Of these people?
Not gonna work.
Blood and guts is all they understand.

[Catspaw]

I remember that there was a potential homicide bomber that refused to carry out the bombing because they wanted her to dress in Western clothes. But most are so conditioned by their recruiters (and probably drugged up to boot) that they'll do anything to kill Israelis.

[tkathy]

They obviously have no hearts and no minds.

[CFC__VRWC]

Conservative? Call it insane, backward, Islamic fundamentalism but it is not conservative!

You have to consider the source here - the St. Petersburg Times. We locals have been known to call it the West Coast Pravda. Little jabs like the one you point out are just the beginning of the reason why.

[demkicker]

How can we expect a culture like this to adapt to and embrace democratic principles?

I don't know and I'm very concerned that the longer we're in Iraq, the worse things will get. I only hope that WE are in control of the Iraqi media (propaganda, if you will). These folks have been spoon fed anti-American hatred for years, and its high time we make an attempt to reverse their screwed up thinking. The middle east is full of illogical and violent hate mongers and I worry about the fate of our soldiers having to deal with this situation.

[dixiechick2000]

"When she left the house, she lost her innocence," said her 71-year-old father, Salih Mutlak. "Had she returned home, I would have killed her myself and drunk her blood."

Wow!

Tough love?

[ChemistCat]

I think the whole article is made up.

I've done lots and lots of reading on honor killings. I took a class on Women in Islam. Never once did I hear of anyone being killed for merely leaving the house without leave--there had to be some other circumstances that made it look as if sexual activity might have happened--and I NEVER heard of any blood drinking; I'm 100% sure that this is NOT something Islam would teach or permit.

That's not the only reason I don't believe any of this, but that's the big one. Islam has a lot of evil in it, especially in some places, but it also has very rigid rules and drinking human blood is just simply too far out there.

This reminds me of the way Saudi papers write about the Jews.

[Cindy]

and in other news today...

WTOP.com (AP): "ISLAMIC JIHAD SEEKS WOMEN SUICIDE BOMBERS"
Updated: Saturday, May. 31, 2003 - 5:04 PM EDT.
By MOHAMMED DARAGHMEH
Associated Press Writer
http://www.wtop.com/index.php?nid=105&sid=81075

[CFC__VRWC]

That's not the only reason I don't believe any of this, but that's the big one. Islam has a lot of evil in it, especially in some places, but it also has very rigid rules and drinking human blood is just simply too far out there.

This reminds me of the way Saudi papers write about the Jews.

This reminds me of some of the propaganda that the madrassas reportedly teach about Jews, that they use the blood of Arab children to make their Passover bread. It makes me wonder if the "blood drinking" is one of those cultural references that we don't understand, sort of like the bit about beating your enemies with your shoes.

[Cindy]

Another version of this incident...

MIDDLE EAST INFO.org (WASHINGTON POST): "Suicide Attacker a Heroine to Frustrated Iraqis
Topic Iraq
Posted on 2003-05-28 01:58:42 by gato
In City That War Barely Touched, Residents Revere Woman Who Threw Grenade at U.S. Troops
By Scott Wilson (Washington Post)
Wednesday, May 28, 2003; Page A12"
http://middleeastinfo.org/article2779.html

[Cindy]

GOOGLE Search Term: "Eman Mutlag Salih"
http://www.google.com/search?q=%22Eman+Mutlag+Salih%22&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&filter=0