US Soldiers Ransack
Sunni Mosque
By Luke Harding
The Guardian - UK
1-3-4
BAGHDAD -- Surrounded by upturned chairs and an abandoned turban,
Sabah Al-Kaisey surveyed his ransacked office yesterday.
The American troops who burst into his mosque on Thursday morning had
smashed down the front gate, broken the air conditioners and ripped up
the carpets. They had also thrown several Korans on the floor and
allegedly punched the man giving the call to prayer in the face.
"They even took our nuts," said Mr Kaisey yesterday, opening the door
of the mosque's empty fridge.
The troops who raided the Ibn Taymiyah mosque, used by Baghdad's
Sunnis, appear to have been looking for weapons used by Iraq's
resistance. They recovered a couple of AK-47s, hand grenades and an
anti-aircraft missile, US military officials said.
Abdul Sattar, the mosque's imam, said the weapons were used by its
guards. "They were there to protect ourselves," he told the Arabic TV
station Al-Jazeera, which showed images of the damaged Korans.
The raid has served to increase the anger and frustration of Iraq's
Sunnis, who feel marginalised and discriminated against in post-Saddam
Iraq.
Yesterday, hundreds of worshippers demonstrated against the raid and
US occupation.
"This is not the behaviour of liberators but occupiers," Mr Kaisey
said, pointing to the metal collection box which had been smashed open
by US troops.
They had taken the money which was supposed to go to the poor and also
the mosque's computers, used to produce a bi-weekly newsletter, he
said.
"Americans might have the latest technology, but they make little
effort to understand people's souls," he said.
Since the fall of Baghdad nine months ago, Shias, who make up 60% of
Iraq's population, have organised themselves into well-defined
political and religious parties.
They have a leading presence on the governing council, the US-picked
body which is to take power from the coalition in July.
But the Sunnis, who have traditionally formed Iraq's ruling elite,
have been divided. Last week Sunni elders from across the country
announced they were setting up a leadership council or shura to
increase their influence on Iraq's political process. The council
includes representatives from all major Sunni religious groups, the
Salafis, the Muslim Brotherhood, Al Jama'a al Islamia, as well as
Kurds and Turkomans.
The challenge for the coalition is to ensure that the Sunnis feel part
of the process, a point made by Tony Blair in a recent speech.
So far the results are not encouraging. During Thursday's raid US
troops arrested 34 people, including several leading members of the
shura, before a meeting of the body in Baghdad today.
US military officials said several of those arrested were suspected
foreign militants, a claim which the mosque disputed.
"They blindfolded all the worshippers and took them away. You don't
see Muslims attacking the holy places of other people," Abu Hassan, a
worshipper at the mosque, said.
Mr Kaisey acknowledged that most of the resistance was being directed
by disgruntled Sunnis but pointed out that Shias were involved as
well.The coalition also failed to appreciate that Sunnis had suffered
under Saddam, he said.
"All of us on the shura council have spent time in prison," he said.
"We suffered under Saddam. But at the end of the day this is our
country.
"If someone invaded Britain what would you do? You would probably go
and fight."
* The US military said that an observation helicopter which crashed in
central Iraq yesterday had been shot down by guerrillas. One pilot was
killed and another injured.
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| User: "R. Foreman" |
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| Title: Re: US now attacking churches |
03 Jan 2004 05:51:35 AM |
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Spat the Words
US Soldiers Ransack
Sunni Mosque
By Luke Harding
The Guardian - UK
1-3-4
BAGHDAD -- Surrounded by upturned chairs and an abandoned turban,
Sabah Al-Kaisey surveyed his ransacked office yesterday.
I saw a picture of the 'ransacked' office. It wasn't ransacked
at all. Some very upset sunnis there making up stories.
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| User: "" |
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| Title: Re: US now attacking churches |
03 Jan 2004 10:29:42 AM |
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On Sat, 03 Jan 2004 11:51:35 GMT, "R. Foreman"
<eidpers@anti-spam.comcast.net> wrote:
DaarkSyde@everywhere.com Spat the Words
US Soldiers Ransack
Sunni Mosque
By Luke Harding
The Guardian - UK
1-3-4
BAGHDAD -- Surrounded by upturned chairs and an abandoned turban,
Sabah Al-Kaisey surveyed his ransacked office yesterday.
I saw a picture of the 'ransacked' office. It wasn't ransacked
at all. Some very upset sunnis there making up stories.
Yeah right. If your biased media didn't write it it didnthappen eh?
What a Baffoon.
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| User: "TonyZ2001" |
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| Title: Re: US now attacking Mosques |
03 Jan 2004 08:04:25 AM |
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Yeah, because the Iraqi insurgents are storing weapons inside of Mosques.
Tony
"Sometimes we don't need History at all."
Dani
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| User: "Saint Isidore of Laytonville" |
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| Title: Re: US now attacking Mosques |
03 Jan 2004 10:22:03 AM |
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I've discussed this matter with God and God
assured me it would be promptly rectified.
The Psychedelick Pope
Saint Isidore of Laytonville
^Ö^ Patron Saint of the Internet ^Ö^
°°^Ö^ °°
http://apple2.org.za/gswv/me/
All I want to do is WOMP WOMP!!
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| User: "" |
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| Title: Re: US now attacking Mosques |
03 Jan 2004 10:40:23 AM |
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On 03 Jan 2004 14:04:25 GMT, (TonyZ2001) wrote:
Yeah, because the Iraqi insurgents are storing weapons inside of Mosques.
Tony
..Prove it!!!!
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