July 31, 06
William Warda
On 31 January 2006, al-Iraqiya Satellite Television broadcasted a film clip of an investigator questioning a terrorist who along with three other of his cohorts known as Jamal, Sabah, and Firas had kidnapped, raped and killed three Christian women specifically because of their religion. The first victim was Za’faraniyya, the second a teacher resident of Diyala, and the third was an employee at a clinic in al-Madaa’in (ancient Seleucia-Ctesiphon), The early centuries christian center in central and southern Mesopotamia.
On July 18, 2006, al-Iraqiya broadcasted interview with Dr. Mahmoud al-Mashhadanian about the subject of raping and killing of women by the Iraqi terrorist. After addressing the kidnapping of his own sister; ‘Thayer al-Mashhadani’ and her guards, the Speaker of the Iraqi National Assembly (Parliament) said: “Why kidnap this Muslim woman, instead of Tayseer; why not kidnap Margaret or Jwan?” The latter are Christian names, the implication being that the terrorists should have kidnapped, raped and killed Christian women instead of his sister.
Evidently the Speaker of the Iraqi National Assembly (Parliament) believes that christians are less human than the Muslims therefore he sees nothing wrong with kidnapping, raping and killing of their woman. While he is obviously mourning for his sister he does not think that the suffering of the Christians matter. If this is the mentality of a prominent Iraqi political leader, who is an educated Muslim, what can one expect from the uneducated and ignorant masses who harbor similar hatred towards none Muslims.
This is the state of mind which has embroiled the Middle East in unending cycles of bloodshed for centuries and threatens to have catastrophic consequences for the entire region. When a society encourages and breeds criminals, terrorists, killers and rapists to unleash against others, sooner or later they will turn against the very people who encouraged their lawlessness. This has been the case in several Islamic countries.
Dr Mahmoud should have realized this when his own sister was kidnapped and God knows what kind of barbarity she was subjected to. He should have realized this when the Sunie and Sheiate factions in Iraq were blowing up each other’s mosques and killing thousands of innocent bystanders regardless of who belonged to what religion.
Despite efforts by the US to bring peace to Iraq the bloodshed will continue for as long as violence is encouraged by the relgious and political leaders against any segment of the society. If not for the presence of the US military there would have been an all out civil war between the Sheias and Sunies which would have turned the country into a blood bath never seen before.
Dr. Mahmoud and others who wish peace for the Muslims have to aspire the same for none Muslims, otherwise the hatred they foster against others, in the long run, will equally victimize their own people. This presently is the case in some Islamic countries. Once the violence is unleashed it becomes difficult to region in. The God who created all mankind, regardless of how they choose to worship, did not do so to watch them slaughter each other. If the Islamic fanatics truly believe that ‘God is Great’ then they should not imply that he is incapable of carrying out his own justice, without their help, when there is a need to do so. They should refrain from blaming him for their own haltered and violence.
All chapters in Quran begin with the statement; “Besme-Allah Rahman al-Raheem”; ‘In the name of God who is kind and compassionate’, however such compassion does not seem to be what Muslims practice, judging from what is going on in Iraq. If God is compassionate shouldn’t those who worship him strive to be as he is? A kind God would be compassionate to all without exception.