Agony of mother set ablaze by Iraqis (the Real Saddam in action)

The Telegraph ^ | 03/07/2003 | Julius Strass

[TonyInOhio]

Shortly after three o'clock on a hot afternoon 37-year-old Nazif Mamik Tofik, an Iraqi Kurd, approached the border post carrying two five-gallon canisters of fuel.

She hoped to cross to the Kurdish-controlled side and sell them for a pound or two, which would help feed her eight hungry children.

As she stepped up to the Iraqi checkpoint, a military policeman suddenly pulled a knife, slashed open the flimsy plastic containers and splashed petrol all over her.

Then the head of the Iraqi border guard casually walked up to her, pulled a lighter from his pocket and set her ablaze. Soaked in fuel, she began to burn like a torch. That was on Monday afternoon. Yesterday Nazif lay in Sulaimania emergency hospital, on the Iraqi side, whimpering with pain. She had third degree burns and doctors said she was lucky to be alive.

A packet of blood hung on a metal stand above her ravaged body. The drip was inserted into her neck as her lower arms were too badly burnt to put it into her wrist. To ease the pain bedclothes would have caused, an aluminium cage had been placed over her body and covered by a blanket.

In a faltering voice, she said: "They said absolutely nothing, just looked at me with hatred. Then they set me alight. My whole body was in flames. I can't describe the pain.

"If it wasn't for an old man who smothered me with his coat I would have burnt alive.

"The border guards just stood and watched. Even after the flames were out they refused to let me return to the hospital in Kirkuk."

The border in the north of Iraq has never been a place for the faint-hearted. Ever since the Kurdish uprising in 1991, travellers have crossed at their peril. But in recent weeks the abuse meted out to those who cross has increased dramatically.

On the Kurdish side yesterday, travellers told how they were being routinely beaten with batons by the Iraqis.

According to one young man, Saman, and other travellers, while Saddam Hussein continues to offer co-operation with the UN weapons inspectors in Baghdad, preparations for war are well advanced in the provinces.

Saman said: "The Iraqis have dug ditches and filled them with oil. They say when the war comes they will set them alight and the smoke will render the American bombers useless."

Kais Hussein, Kurdish deputy commander of Chamchamal border post, said: "The people coming across all say the situation is far worse than a few weeks ago. Each night the Iraqi police arrest anybody on the streets."

In the Sulaimania hospital, Nazif was being visited by her sister yesterday. Dr Karokh Hassan, the doctor treating her, was asked whether there was any chance she had invented her story.

"I have no reason to doubt what she says is true," he said.

"It will be a month before her skin begins to heal. Only then can we begin the slow, painful process of grafting."

[TonyInOhio]

Just ask the Kurds about those gentle, cooperative Iraqis. Better yet, let's ask the French.

[Terriergal]

ping!

[biblewonk]

"It's not our problem"

"It's only progaganda and not true"

"What about North Korea?"

"What about the cost"

"What about my stock portfolo?"

"I don't care unless the UN says I should"

Nausiatingly true sarcasm off, thankfully.

BWInIowa

[Michael.SF.]

Saman said: "The Iraqis have dug ditches and filled them with oil. They say when the war comes they will set them alight and the smoke will render the American bombers useless."

This passes for Iraqi War Strategy?

[RightResponse]

I truly feel for the Kurdish woman, but apparantly and surprisingly, gasoline must grow on trees in that Northern area!

[Terriergal]

This is ... beyond words.

[Terriergal]

lol! I saw footage of them digging the trenches this morning. My almost 10 yr old came in and saw it and said "are those Iraqi's?" with an air of incredulousness.

[Terriergal]

I hear ya.

[Mfkmmof4]

I was listening to the Joe Madison show this a.m. BRIEFLY and was hearing his attacks against going after Saddam. He had a caller of course opposed to Bush and the war. I was really in a state of non-belief when this caller suggested any Iraqi who is talking about torture by Saddam is being paid to say that and her response to Iraqis being afraid of death if they do speak was "yeah right".

[Dems_R_Losers]

This only happened because the murderous U.S. sanctions have forced the poor Iraqis to sell fuel for food. /dws/

[Pearls Before Swine]

Iraq is a hellhole. However, humanitarian grounds are not enough for an invasion where the full weight of the work falls on the United States alone. If it were, we would be busy now wasting our efforts in Africa. That is also why it is such a crime that Clinton, angling for a Peace Prize, was willing to have the US do the heavy lifting in Yugoslavia.

Cynical as this may sound, we have to act in our interest, although any humanitarian good we can do is a plus. Iraq is a target because in my mind, it is a highly probable WMD proliferator, antagonistic to us, supporting terrorists, and in a strategic portion of the world. The fact that Saddam and his regime deserve to die on moral as well as strategic grounds is only (from the US point of view) icing on the cake.

On a related note, how do you say the opposite of "Vive la France?"

[JohnGalt]

Sadly, a similiar fate awaits Iraqi Christians whom Saddam has been protecting...oh, well, let God sort it out right?

[Izzy Dunne]

how do you say the opposite of "Vive la France?"

How about "Heave la France"?

[Ditter]

The only way I can console myself when I read things like this is to be certain that this womans pain is only for a while. Saddam will burn in hell for all eternity & that brings a smile to my lips.

[valleygal]

Thanks Terrigal, for pinging me here. All I can say is it's time to liberate the Iraqis TODAY!

[eleni121]

Horrible brutal people aren't those Iraqis - and don't forget the Turks have done even worse to the Kurds.

[buffyt]

BUMP!

[buffyt]

WHY is NOW so silent on the plight of females in Iraq and other MidEastern countries? Never mind, I already know that answer..............

[Michael.SF.]

On a related note, how do you say the opposite of "Vive la France?"

mort à la France

[twigs]

Why would Saddam protect Christians? I realize that Aziz is a Christian, but why would he protect others?