Posted on 02/23/2002 11:25:52 AM PST by watchin
Additional reporting by IOL correspondent in Nigeria, Sulaiman Osho
ABEOKUTA, Nigeria (IslamOnline) - The leader of Al-Qaeda network, Osama bin Laden, who is being chased by the U.S. in Afghanistan for alleged acts of terrorism has been declared as hero in different parts of Nigeria.
Newly born babies in Nigeria are being named after the man who is regarded as a "hero for challenging America's double standards in world politics."
Investigations revealed that seventy percent of baby boys born in a hospital in Kano, northern part of Nigeria are being named Osama bin Laden.
A nurse at the hospital told IslamOnline's correspondent that "this is a season of Bin Laden babies where fathers who regard him as hero name their children after him for his bravery and undauntedness."
Meanwhile, a nursing mother in Calabar, Cross River State of southeastern Nigeria has fled home in protest against the naming of her newly born baby after Osama bin Laden by her husband.
The woman, a Christian, has decided to divorce the Muslim husband for naming her child after "the most wanted man in the world." But the husband had insisted that his son's name is Osama bin Laden.
This is not the first time controversy has arisen over naming a child after Bin Laden.
In November last year, a Brazilian couple announced they are filing a lawsuit to secure the right to name their new-born son "Osama bin Laden Oliveira Soares," after the civil registry office refused to let them register the name, news agencies reported.
Osvaldo Oliveira Soares and Maria Aparecida vowed they will take the issue to the courts after social workers recommended that they choose another name due to the difficulty the name could cause for the boy in the future, according to Sao Paulo's daily newspaper, Jornal da Tarde, reported Spanish news agency EFE.
However, the couple has refused to opt for a different name.
Oliveira Soares expressed his admiration for Osama bin Laden and noted that "he is a good person, not the terrorist the United States makes him out to be."
He added that his respect for the Saudi-born exiled millionaire originated when he was transferred to the Baghdad office of the Brazilian Construction Company for which he works.
While living in Iraq, Oliveira Soares traveled to Afghanistan and Pakistan, but he denied ever having contact with the leader of the Al-Qaeda network.
In another incident in the Philippines, a Christian family in October, also named their newborn baby, Osama.
The infant's father, Nicolas Sivellejo, said he had named his son after Bin Laden, in support of the Saudi dissident's anti-American stance.
In his town, the registrar there also tried to dissuade the 27-year-old Sivellejo from naming his son after his hero, Bin Laden.
The baby was born on September 24th, 13 days after the attacks. Sivellejo said his first-born was named after his hero for showing the world that "America is not at all invincible."
Sivellejo, who is a devout Catholic, told local newspapers that he does not like the "American imperialists."
Another pro-bin Laden supporter in Malaysia almost named his baby boy, also born in September, after Bin Laden. He was planning to name his son Usamah, but cancelled his plans, fearing reprisals.
A previous article similar to this was deleted for some reason, so I'm replacing it. I think it is an important piece of information for those FReepers who think Islam is peaceful and loving, based on their experience with "several friends" who are muslim. If 70% are naming their baby boys Osama, then how is it that "most, typical, average, ordinary" muslims are peace-loving and resent the hi-jacking of their religion?
You can't define Islam by the behavior of five or six friends, and then write off the taliban, al-Quaida, abu-sayyaf, Iraq, Iran, Sudan, Indonesia, etc. as a fringe element that is hijacking Islam.
First off, I find this number to be very hard to believe. I have no doubt that there are thousands of muslim boys born everyday named Osama, but 70%? Even in some limited areas, I find it hard to believe. Just had to get that out of the way.
That being said, I completely agree with you. The thought that islam is a religion of peace is ridiculous. A cursory reading of the koran, will make it clear that this is a barbaric religion of hatred and violence. While muslims may publicly claim that terrorists are not representative of the “true followers” of islam, its pretty obvious that it’s said with a knowing wink.
Examine the reaction of the muslims in the U.S. who expressed comparatively little condemnation for the Sept. 11th attacks compared with their constant carping that they must not be singled out for retribution and that their civil rights must be protected.
After we’ve seen the handiwork of muslims time and again carrying out the most horrific acts of violence in the name of allah and having their actions backed up by DIRECT QUOTES FROM THE koran.
As a God Loving Catholic, I can say without a doubt that if Catholic terrorists began blowing up buildings AND COULD SITE PASSAGES FROM THE BIBLE WHICH CLEARLY CONDONED THESE ACTIONS I’d have to step back and take a look at my continued participation in The Church. For anyone who knows 4 or 5 “good muslims”, ask yourself, why do they continue to practice having seen all we have recently, as well as what we’ve seen from muslims historically.
Owl _ Eagle
“Guns before butter.”
Certainly. And while most have chosen those names in spite of the associations, a few nutjobs have chosen them because of them.
But when 70% of the babies in Germany are named "Adolph Hitler", we have a problem. When 70% of the babies in a city in the US are named "Ted Bundy" or "Charles Manson" or "Bill Clinton", we have a problem.
No longer could you say that most of them are normal, peace-loving people.
That is scary.
Try a google search for "babies, osama, nigeria". That number is all over the place. It's not that it's a common name in Nigeria - the 70% figure is post 911. This boys are not merely being named Osama. They are being named after bin Laden.
Maybe the parents should let their kids decide their own names. That could start a rush on "Picabo Bin Laden."
Saying that most muslims are peaceful sounds tolerant and friendly, but I have yet to see any evidence that it is TRUE.
The point is not the logistical problems of so many boys/men with the same name.
The point is that 70% of these peace-loving muslims see Osama bin Laden as a hero rather than a hijacker of their religion.
A previous poster here said "Viva Aids Africa." A truly horrendous thought, given the millions that have died from aids. But s/he was probably just venting frustration at the disrespect paid to our WTC dead. A little misplaced, perhaps, given all of the countries in Africa who are not naming their children Osama. And the Nigerians are probably just venting their frustration at the imagined and perceived abuses that the US directs toward their country. A little misplaced, perhaps, given that we probably can't find their lil country on a map, much less care about any of their internal affairs.
He just wanted his son to be wanted, is that such a bad thing?
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