Thursday, March 24, 2005

New Sistani Taliban Rising In Iraq...?

Thanks to Healing Iraq for pointing out the dangers of an emerging new "Iraqi Taliban" trying to assert themselves by beating and robbing kids listening to music.



"Monday, March 21, 2005
Mahdi Army Beats 2 Students to Death in Basrah
No one seems to have reported the latest events in Basrah. Not any of the news services or the blogs.

Students of the Basrah and Shatt Al-Arab universities in Basrah city have been on strike for the last three days as a reaction to the attack last week by Sadrists and Mahdi Army militiamen on tens of students organising a field trip or a picnic at Al-Andalus park, downtown Basrah.

Hooded men assaulted the students with rubber cables and truncheons which resulted in the death of a Christian girl, Zahra Ashour, and another student who came to her rescue after militiamen had tore off her clothes and were beating her to death. He was shot in the head.

Students say that their belongings, such as mobile phones, cameras, stereo players and loudspeakers, were stolen or smashed to pieces by the militiamen. Girl students not wearing headscarves, most of them Christian, were severely beaten and at least 20 students were kidnapped and taken to Sadr's office in Al-Tuwaisa for 'interrogation' and were only released late at night.

Students also say the police and British soldiers were nearby but did not intervene..."



Let's hope the tables eventually turn on these little fanatics, and the new and future Iraqi government puts them gently but firmly in their places.


:)