Paradise for 'martyrs' on display

AP ^ | May 11, 2003 | Mohammed Daraghmeh

[sarcasm]

NABLUS, West Bank — Plastic trees, goldfish swimming in a generator-powered fountain, posters of the dead on the wall: This is a model of the paradise Islamic militants say awaits those killed in fighting with Israel, including suicide bombers.

The display at the West Bank's largest university, An Najah, was assembled by supporters of the violent Hamas group who said they wanted to raise students' morale after 31 months of fighting with Israel.

The university — a hotbed of Palestinian nationalism and a Hamas stronghold — said it officially opposes bombings but didn't want to stifle the students' views.

Israel complains that the Palestinian Authority and many Palestinian institutions incite violence against the Jewish state. Stopping incitement is one of the Palestinian Authority's obligations in a U.S.-backed peace plan.

As part of the so-called "road map" to peace, Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas also would have to crack down on militant groups, including Hamas, that have carried out scores of suicide bombings in recent years, killing hundreds of Israelis.

However, support for militants is still running high among ordinary Palestinians embittered by Israel's tough measures, including travel bans and military strikes, in the current round of fighting.

Palestinian Muslims widely believe that suicide bombers and others killed fighting Israel will spend eternity in paradise, in the company of 72 virgins. That promise has been used as a recruiting tool, relatives of some of the bombers have said.

Organizers said the model of paradise on display at An Najah was meant to illustrate the rewards for carrying out attacks on Israel.

Those wishing to enter the room housing paradise had to walk through a candlelit passage with 26 mock graves. Each contained a green shroud and a photo of one of 26 An Najah students killed in the conflict with Israel, including six suicide bombers.

Stairs from the open graves led down into the paradise section. A small generator pumped water through a fountain into a channel where goldfish swim. Birds chirped in cages suspended from plastic trees. The floor was strewn with sand and plastic flowers. Pictures of the bombers and quotes from the Quran, the Islamic holy book, covered the wall.

Hundreds of students filed through the exhibit, some returning again and again.

Student Abdel Aziz Mohammed said the exhibit helped him realize "the fate of the fighters" after they blow themselves up among Israelis. "I looked at their pictures, I felt them talking and smiling. They really are in their heaven," he said.

[FairOpinion]

This at a university!

Unbelievable. Or maybe not, after all they train their children from early ages to become suicide bombers.

[jocon307]

"This at a university!"

What you said! Sheesh, morons! This is so sad. Oh, we'd make peace with these people...if they only had a brain!


{can you say pa-the-tic?...pathetic!}

[American in Israel]

Hey it is required in the "Road Map" that the schools teach peace instead of war. They simply are putting a peaceful scene at the school right? [/sarcasm]

[American in Israel]

(Filed under the stupider than a box of rocks file)

Plastic trees, goldfish swimming in a generator-powered fountain, posters of the dead on the wall:

I have never seen anything like this in all my life," said Abdel Aziz Mohammed, a third-year Arabic studies major. Mohammed said that the exhibit helped him realize "the fate of the fighters" after they blow themselves up. "I looked at their pictures, I felt them talking and smiling. They really are in their heaven," he said.

Missing from the display of heaven were the 72 virgins. Organizers said they weren't sure how to depict them.

-----------

I captured the full statement on WND's site, the AP article was a bit longer. This guys facination with plastic trees and goldfish is pretty sad. Get a life comes to mind, but idiots like him, after three years study in Islam would rather take others...

[MHGinTN]

... they train their children from early ages to become suicide bombers. Not exactly. From early childhood they train their children to be suicide MURDERERS.

[litehaus]

Wasn't it Golda M. who said peace would come only when the Palies loved their own children more than they hate the Jews?

[jabotinsky]

Is it really necessary for FReepers to state the obvoius and insert the assinine {/sarcasm} everytime. In case you have not noiced, FReepers are a bit more savvy than your average democRAT.

enough already, we can figure out when something is sarcastic. we dont need signs to tell us what sentiment a statement carries.

jabo {/disgusted} Freeper

[American in Israel]

When I don't put in the [/sarcasm] tag I get flack for that too. Most freepers are pretty savy. Some get [disgusted] at the slightest thing [/disgusted]

[FairOpinion]

As a matter of facts I have seen when people left out the (/sarcasm, because they figured it would be obvious, and got flamed, because some thought they really mean it.

I think the reason is, that we can never underestimate the ludicriousness of the liberal position and sometimes they sneak in here. The Admin Moderators are doing a super job in Zotting them, but some do manage to stay just under the radar and that fine line. So the (/sarcasm) is necessary to make sure people don't misunderstand.

[Mister Baredog]

The most perfectly realized earthly vision of Islamic heaven is the Playboy Mansion.

My non-Muslim vision is more like the Convent. If you're right conversions will increase. LOL!

[gitmo]

Actual image of Paradise for Terrorist Martyrs