From the category archives:

Evil Terrorists

The Young Sudanese Girl Who Was Flogged, Humiliated and Laughed At Because…

by Drima on December 18, 2010

… she was being “punished under sharia, Islamic law, but there was a mistake in the way the punishment was carried out.”

Yup. Those were the words of Khartoum state Governor, Abder Rahman al-Khidir, of the ruling National Congress Party. They constituted his reaction to the furious Sudanese reactions to this lovely video. (Warning: some of you will find this quite disturbing).

Here’s some background:

This week a YouTube video surfaced showing an unidentified woman in a voluminous cloak on her knees screaming and pleading in agony and pain with blue-uniformed policemen who took turns whipping her across the head and feet.

The policemen are shown to be laughing as the woman received the punishment and they are heard saying that she is sentenced to 50 lashes.

The video stirred widespread outcry among Sudanese around the world and even some pro-government columnists wrote critically of the incident.

“The investigation was started immediately after the images of the young woman, being punished under Articles 154 and 155 of the 1991 Sudanese penal code, appeared on the Internet,” the judiciary said in a statement.

The statement said the investigation would look into whether the punishment was carried out improperly.

The investigation would look into whether the punishment was carried out improperly? Are you kidding me? That’s a serious load of bullshit. The only “investigation” anyone needs to conduct to know if this punishment was carried out improperly is to simply watch the damn video.

You see dear ladies and gentlemen, if you’re wondering what the proper way to implement this punishment is, then let me briefly break it down for you according to the wide-spread traditionalist interpretation of Islam, and without getting too technical.

  • Firstly, there obviously needs to be a fair trial.
  • Secondly, the scourger must not at any point raise his hand above his shoulder when he flogs.
  • And thirdly, the scourger is required to hold a copy of the Koran under the armpit of his striking arm while carrying out the sentence, to discourage him from whipping too hard and potentially dropping the holy book on the ground.

Now, not only where there two men whipping the poor girl at the same time, and in the midst of other people’s humiliating laughter, but they also had no Korans held under their armpits. And my, oh my, if only they held them. If only there was just one man flogging her softly. Gosh, that would have made the situation so much better, right? It would have made it a lot less cruel, right? It would have made the punishment proper and less humiliating, right?

Wrong.

And that’s precisely the thing that upset me the most and boiled my blood when I read too many of the reactions of angry Sudanese to this appalling video, reactions and opinions that are very similar to the one voiced by Khartoum’s Governor.

What we should be outraged about is not how this punishment should have been applied “properly,” but instead, we should be outraged that such punishments continue to exist at all. Flogging should be abolished completely, and we should stop shying away from criticizing troubling aspects of all organized religions.

Yes, there are things about Sharia—dietary laws, the amount of money you should pay for charity, rules that eliminate the practice of usury—that in many ways are actually good and beneficial when we willingly apply them in our lifestyles, and they are not imposed on us.

However, deeply troubling punishments such as stonings, beheadings, and lashings are not good, not humane, and not fit for modern times, and we need to have a frank conversation about that. But when is it going to happen on a large scale? When? If anything, that conversation needs to happen now. The video above should trigger it, but it looks like it hasn’t, at least not adequately… at least not very publicly.

And some Sudanese Muslim friends wonder why I support a secular (not secularist) state. Maybe it’s time they read Abdullahi An-Na’im’s book Islam and the Secular State: Negotiating the Future of Shari’a. Maybe it’s time they delved into Tariq Ramadan’s and Reza Aslan’s writings. Maybe it’s time they began listening to Muslim scholars like Rashied Omar.

Maybe it’s time they stopped being fooled by the Islamist notion that Sharia is sacred and hence automatically beyond criticism. Maybe they should repeatedly watch that video of that poor girl getting whipped, ehm, not so “properly,” and agonizing in pain. Maybe only then, they’ll reconsider and rethink their stance.

On a related note, Lubna was surely lucky to get away with a fine for the horrible evil crime of wearing trousers. Oh, and let’s not forget Ms. Gibbons. I bet those 40 lashes would have hurt her like hell.

Ah, don’t you just love this? I surely do.

Have a wonderful day everyone.

{ 32 comments }

Mumbai Under Attack

by Drima on November 27, 2008

The city is getting terrorized with a well-coordinated sophisticated attack. A friend of mine was two blocks away from the blasts but luckily he’s okay. Unfortunately, not everyone is.

Amanpour sheds light.

May the victims rest in peace, and may we see an end to this ongoing madness as soon as possible.

{ 2 comments }

13 Year Old Somali Victim of Rape Stoned to Death by al-Qaeda’s Cute Friends (Post Updated)

by Drima on November 3, 2008

Warms up your heart, doesn’t it?

MOGADISHU, Somalia - A 13-year-old girl who said she had been raped was stoned to death in Somalia after being accused of adultery by Islamic militants, a human rights group said.

Dozens of men stoned Aisha Ibrahim Duhulow to death Oct. 27 in a stadium packed with 1,000 spectators in the southern port city of Kismayo, Amnesty International and Somali media reported, citing witnesses.

To all those idiots out there supporting al-Qaeda, this is the kind of shit you’re going to end up with if they ever get to rule your neighborhood.

I understand you may have your own “kinder” interpretation of Sharia, but the kind featured above is precisely what they’ll be busy shoving down our throats. I’m sure you’d love to see your daughters or sisters go through similar “holy” trials if they too get raped and can’t produce four witnesses to confirm that the crime took place, right?

Disgusting.

For the zillionth time, Sharia is NOT holy, and never will be. I speak in practical terms, because Sharia’s enforcement requires an initial interpretation of religious scriptures - both activities ultimately being the product of fallible humans, people just like you and me.

So please dear Muslims, don’t fear criticizing Sharia. Go ahead. Feel free to tear it apart where appropriate if you wish to do so, and if anyone pushes the “hey, how dare you criticize God’s law?” argument in your face, you know what to do.

Even God’s laws or so-called laws require interpretation, something which is inevitably exercised by imperfect, fallible bearded men (rarely women in case you haven’t noticed), many of whom are just power-hungry morons who hide behind a veil of piety to shield themselves from criticism.

Cool?

Now excuse me while I go and continue puking.

UPDATE: There are a number of legitimate questions from fellow (albeit traditionalist) Muslims which have popped up in the comments section. While I responded in a comment, I thought it would be better if I added it here in the post to make it more visible.

[click to continue...]

{ 57 comments }

Terrorist Attacks Dropping?

by Drima on May 23, 2008

At first, I was skeptical when I came across this.

“Even if the Iraq ‘terrorism’ data are included, there has still been a substantial decline in the global terrorism toll,” said the 2007 Human Security Brief, an annual report funded by the governments of Canada, Norway, Switzerland, Sweden and Britain.

Pay attention to the countries in bold. If Switzerland isn’t trustworthy and very neutral then I don’t know what country is.

“We have concluded that the expert consensus (on terrorism) is probably misleading,” Andrew Mack, director of the Human Security Report Project, told a news conference.

Despite apparent declines in terrorism deaths, many U.S. think-tanks continue to report sharp increases.

Interesting, so the Swiss say there’s a decline and US think-tanks say the opposite.

Data of the Memorial Institute for the Prevention of Terrorism (MIPT), funded by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, points to more than a fourfold increase in worldwide deaths due to terrorism from 1998 to 2006. The sharpest increase came after the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003.

I’m just speculating here but could MIPT be crafting misleading reports simply because a drop in terrorism will mean a drop in the next budget they’re given by Homeland Security? Hellooo, no terrorismo, then no big need for MIPT to exist si?

But hey, you know what, we could completely turn this around the other way.

While a drop in terrorism could mean an American success, it could also be the Swiss and Canadians telling America “hey, okay enough. You won. Now it’s time to pull your troops out. Your job is done. The world is safer now. Go home yankees! You’ve spilled enough blood. Thanks, we appreciate it. No more wars please. That’s it, gracias!” :P

Ah, all I know is that Iraq is witnessing a sharp decrease in violence. Now that has got to be a good thing. There should have been a Surge a long time ago. Better late than never.

{ 3 comments }

Super Astonishing Statements by Former Head of CIA’s Bin Laden Unit

by Drima on March 9, 2008

Last night, I discovered this jaw-dropping video of Micheal Scheuer, former head of the CIA’s Bin Laden Unit.

As a Muslim, I found it upsetting (and I’m sure Israelis will too for their own reasons). Frankly, I’m actually very dumbfounded that someone who used to be in the CIA has these kind of ludicrous opinions.

Apparently, Michael thinks Bin Laden is not a terrorist but a resistance fighter. Yes, an insurgent and a freaking “resistance fighter”. Oh and guess what his solution is in a post 9/11 world - killing more of the enemy without a great deal of concern for civilian casualties!

Yes, dear Michael, that’s exactly the solution. No need for putting any effort whatsoever in winning hearts and minds. Screw the civilians too!

The foreign policy of the United States has a lot to answer for in the Middle East but it’s not really the reason for why Bin Laden is waging his war against America and the West. It has everything to do with al-Qaeda’s ideology and goal of establishing (through means of violence) a global Caliphate which enforces their vision of “holy laws”.

If today America withdrew from Iraq and Afghanistan, dismantled its military bases in the Gulf, stopped supporting dictatorships like Mubarak’s and the House of Al Saud, stopped backing up Israel, and Palestine finally got fairly established, many, many Muslims and Arabs will be very happy. They won’t march in streets and call for America’s death anymore. However, for the Bin Laden types, it will never be enough.

Ali Eteraz too, shares a similar view in the second block-quote of his post “The Fanatics, Not Foreign Policy” which I encourage you to read.

Knock, knock Micheal Scheuer. It’s time to wake up.

{ 40 comments }

Pro Al-Qaeda Graffiti Appears In Large Parts of Khartoum

by Drima on March 1, 2008

How comforting:

February 25, 2008 (KHARTOUM) — The walls in the Sudanese capital as well as another major city have been smothered with Graffiti supporting the Al-Qaeda terrorist Islamic militant group, multiple sources told Sudan Tribune.

Residents of Khartoum and Omdurman woke up to paintings showing Islamic symbols such as the crescent with the words “Al-Qaeda Organization in Sudan” on them.

Evil butcher-wannabes. Meanwhile,Sudanese authorities are downplaying the whole thing. I guess they don’t want expatriates working in the oil sector to get freaked out.

{ 0 comments }

Bin Laden’s Son Wants To Be a Peace Activist

by Drima on January 18, 2008

What the

Omar — one of bin Laden’s 19 children — raised a tabloid storm last year when he married a 52-year-old British woman, Jane Felix-Browne, who took the name Zaina Alsabah.

… Omar lived with the al-Qaida leader in Sudan, then moved with him to Afghanistan in 1996.

There, Omar says he trained at an al-Qaida camp but in 2000 he decided there must be another way and he left his father, returning to his homeland of Saudi Arabia.

“I don’t want to be in that situation to just fight. I like to find another way and this other way may be like we do now, talking,” he said in English.

Erm, you mean dialogue. But it’s okay, doesn’t matter. So far so good.

… Omar doesn’t criticize his father and says Osama bin Laden is just trying to defend the Islamic world.

Raaaight!

… Omar is convinced a truce between the West and al-Qaida is possible.

Oh yeah? Good luck!

{ 7 comments }

US Diplomat Shot Dead In Khartoum

by Drima on January 3, 2008

Not a good way to begin the new year.

It was not known if the attack had a political motive or was a random crime.

Darfur, far to the west, is engulfed in violence. But the Sudanese capital and its surroundings rarely see political violence or attacks by Islamic militants.

John Granville (shown in the picture above) worked for USAID. Apparently the shooter waited early before dawn for the driver to pick up the diplomat and then made the move. The incident took place at about 4AM.

I spent the last two hours or so delving into the reports and Sudanese opinions concerning this story. Opposition parties are already using the incident as a stick to beat al-Bashir’s ruling NCP. Furthermore, at the moment there are many speculations over who did it and why. Bla bla bla, this an isolated incident. Bla bla bla, this is defintely al-Qaeda’s doing. Bla bla bla, their car got caught up in the middle of a fight unfortunately.

Even the details of where John was shot are inaccurate.

First we have this:

he was hit by five bullets in the head, neck and chest, the statement said.

And then we have this:

the American was shot five times in the hand, shoulder and stomach.

Wonderful!

The local authorities and the US embassy have begun investigations.

Sudanese authorities are expressing their regret over Tuesday’s deadly shooting of a U.S. diplomat in the capital of Khartoum.

Really? So first you stir anti-Western sentiments using the state media to deflect attention away from local issues and then you express regret? I’m not sure I get it but hey what do I know? I’m just a dumb 21 year old Sudanese kid.

The timing of the attack is interesting and may provide some clues.

The shooting happened one day after a joint United Nations-African Union force took over peacekeeping duties in Darfur.

On Monday, President Bush signed legislation allowing U.S. state and local governments to divest from Sudan because of the Darfur situation.

Indeed, Bush signed the Sudan divestment bill.

Personally, I smell al-Qaeda’s and their like-minded friends’ stink all over this but I think it’s best to wait and see. Meanwhile, I’m glad that Sudanese have been vocal in their condemnation. There are two general sentiments expressed. The first is “no matter what our differences are, this should never be the way to settle them” and the second is “this man was a guest in our country who must have been treated as such”. Nobody wants this to become a trend.

On a related note, shouldn’t we get a prize for being the African country with the highest number of gigantic crappy headlines for 2007 or something? Because seriously, we deserve one!

{ 3 comments }

Bhutto Assassinated

by Drima on December 28, 2007

This is sad. Last year, around this same time, it was Saddam Hussein. Most rejoiced. Now, we have this shit.

May she rest in peace. :(

For information and updates, I recommend checking out Ali Eteraz.

{ 8 comments }

Al-Qaeda Promises War in Darfur

by Drima on September 20, 2007

Oh dear.

CAIRO, Egypt - Osama bin Laden will release a new message soon declaring war on Pakistani President Gen. Pervez Musharraf, al-Qaida announced Thursday.

… Speakers in the video promised more fighting in Afghanistan, North Africa and Sudan’s Darfur region.

Why isn’t this stinking butcher named Bin Laden dead yet? Someone please drop a bomb on his head. Pretty please with a cherry on top.

{ 21 comments }

Sudan: Using Children For Assassination Attempts

by Drima on September 10, 2007

This is one hell of a sick, disgusting story.

September 3, 2007 (KHARTOUM) — The deputy governor of Southern Kordofan Maj. Gen. Daniel Kodi, has survived an assassination attempt during event he was addressing last Friday in the city of Kosti.

Eyewitnesses said that an unknown man in the audience handed an explosive device to a child and asked to proceed to the podium where Kodi was present.

However the device exploded before the child made it to the podium and Kodi was unhurt. The assassin was taken into the custody of the SPLM.

The assassin should face a shooting squad. Or not. Ah, just throw him in a tiny stinky cell for life.

The good news is that the kid didn’t die. The bad news is that his hand got blown up quite badly. There are some graphic pictures available here.

{ 4 comments }

Attack on British Embassy in Sudan Foiled

by Drima on August 21, 2007

Great. Just what we need. Al-Qaeda in Khartoum.

{ 22 comments }

Britain’s Terrorist Plot

by Drima on July 2, 2007

It needs no introduction. It’s all over the news. And guess who did it? The Irish! Oh yes, it was them, believe me, “we” had absolutely nothing to do with it. Bleh.

It’s sickening what those filthy butchers are trying to inflect upon innocent people. But what sickens me even more is how too many Muslims are in denial that we have a major major problem. “Oh it must be the Jooooz!” they proclaim. Don’t let me forget the other retards like far-leftist Alex Jones who simply help reinforce the denial syndrome too many Muslims suffer from. We need more of the Sabir types.

Of course, the overwhelming majority of Muslims are not terrorists, nor are all terrorists Muslim. But we’d be kidding ourselves if we claimed that a disproportionate number of terrorists aren’t Muslim or that the most destructive and deadly terrorist attacks aren’t perpetrated by Muslims fighting under the banner of Islam. Furthermore, terrorism is but an extreme manifestation of a rejectionist mentality that is all too common amongst Muslims. Though few Muslims attempt to justify terrorist attacks, many steadfastly deny that Muslims were ultimately responsible, attributing them to elaborate conspiracy theories in which the Muslim hijackers/bombers were unwitting pawns in a grand plot directed by America/Israel/India/Freemasons. Even if such views are to be taken at face value, their advocates seem disturbingly unconcerned about the propensity of Muslims to be brainwashed and unwittingly recruited into shadowy non-Muslim conspiracies.

Read it all here.

Too often I come across those 2 types of Muslims, the terrorist supporters and the ones in denial. The ones in denial are drowned in victimhood. As for the ones who support the Bin Laden types, they’re just blinded by anger and pure hatred. I know a few people who fit that category and I remember debating with them recently. They were still persistent in their support of Bin Laden. I then asked them a few simple questions. “What kind of life do you think you and your sisters will have once those people are in power and ruling over us? What kind of harsh Sharia do you think they’ll be shoving down our throats? If I rewind back time, would you like to live under the Taliban in Afghanistan?” … and suddenly… silence.

(hat tip for picture: Umar Lee)

Anger and hatred are powerful intoxicants. I fear we won’t wake up until it’s too late. This cancer is spreading too fast within our Muslim communities.

{ 82 comments }

Sudan: Kajbar Massacre

by Drima on June 25, 2007

Indeed, if this happens not so far away from Khartoum, imagine what happens in Darfur! Many Sudanese people are extremely furious over this. As for me, my blood is boiling right now.

On June 13, 2007 we received disturbing news from Kajbar area in Northern Sudan informing that the security forces have used excessive force to disperse a peaceful demonstration by Nubians protesting the construction of a dam at Third Cataract by Kajbar village. The security forces used tear gas and life ammunitions killing at least 6 people and wounding many others. The date palm trees in the area along the Nile were set on fire when peaceful demonstrators used them as protective shields from sporadic shooting. The security forces started shooting on the crowd from the surrounding mountains when the demonstrators came across a narrow passage on their way to an open area few kilometers south of the site of the proposed dam

Wonderful. More related info here. Videos here.

{ 12 comments }

The Virginia Tech Tragedy

by Drima on April 19, 2007

So just after a few days of blogging about these crazy kids, this tragic Virginia Tech crap goes down. It’s disgusting and shocking. It’s as if this is now becoming an American trend. I feel bad for the victims’ families and friends. Moreover I feel bad for the poor psycho killer himself. The guy was clearly deeply disturbed. Iraqis go kaboom and kill each other, while disturbed ones in America go on a shooting rampage and kill fellow students. What a wonderful world. Some peoples’ reactions make the whole event even more wonderful. Leilouta has some good and bad ones nicely listed. Lord have mercy!

{ 30 comments }