Removing Life Support Ruled Out for Arafat

AP Via LA Times ^ | 11/10/04 | AP

[The Dude]

Removing Life Support Ruled Out for Arafat

2 hours, 28 minutes ago Middle East - AP

By LARA SUKHTIAN, Associated Press Writer

CLAMART, France - Yasser Arafat (news - web sites) has suffered brain damage and kidney and liver failure, the Palestinian prime minister said Wednesday, but a top Muslim cleric ruled out any possibility of life support being turned off.

AP Photo

Reuters Slideshow: Yasser Arafat

Palestinian Official Comments on Arafat Health (AP Video)

French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin said late Wednesday that the Palestinian leader was in his "final hours," telling France-2 television: "I hope that we can respect the final hours of a man who is approaching death."

Palestinian Foreign Minister Nabil Shaath said Arafat, who was in a deep coma connected to a respirator and a feeding tube, had suffered brain damage because of a hemorrhage. Only his heart and lungs were still functioning, Shaath said.

A top Islamic cleric, Taisser Bayoud Tamimi, read Wednesday from the Quran at Arafat's bedside and said no attempt would be made to remove him from life support.

"As long as there are signs of life in the body of the president, he will remain under treatment," said Tamimi. "It is prohibited in Islam."

Tamimi, who heads the Islamic court in the West Bank and Gaza Strip (news - web sites), said during more than an hour with Arafat, he "prayed to God for his recovery." Tamimi returned to the hospital in the evening and said he would stay as long as necessary.

[The Dude]

Instead of pulling the plug how about letting him die in a way that apparantly is preferrable to his supporters, like strapping C4 to his body or cutting his head off with a knife.

[Howie66]

I could.

[beyond the sea]

ROFL!

[mainepatsfan]

So the Palestinians aren't in favor of doctor assisted suicide?

[PilloryHillary]

Dress him in a loaded suicide bomber vest thingie, wrap him in bacon and blow him up. Die already!

[nuffsenuff]

Liver and kidney failure and then a brain hemorrhage?

That sounds like poisoning... I'm no expert but it sounds like poisoning.

[Minnesocold]

Instead of pulling the plug how about letting him die in a way that apparantly is preferrable to his supporters, like strapping C4 to his body or cutting his head off with a knife.

Seconded.

[bushisdamanin04]

Weekend at Bernies!

[mainepatsfan]

This is starting to become a Saturday Night Live skit.

[BJClinton]

Either that or complete immune system failure.

[ladyinred]

"As long as there are signs of life in the body of the president, he will remain under treatment," said Tamimi. "It is prohibited in Islam."

This is a sickening comment from people who are murdering cowards when it comes to others.

[lancer]

I tried to get a pool going at my office on the day and time of Amarat's death, but no takers. My colleagues wanted to know how we could tell he was dead.
And then there was the question of getting two palestinians to agree on the time of death.

Faced with those conditions, I gave up...

[rockabyebaby]

"signs of life" ?????? he's been dead a freakin' week, punch out arafat you're fired

[Bon mots]

Instead of pulling the plug how about letting him die in a way that apparantly is preferrable to his supporters, like strapping C4 to his body or cutting his head off with a knife.

The only guaranteed method involves driving a wooden stake through his heart. There is no other way.

[mainepatsfan]

I wasn't alive then but how long did Franco hang on until he finally checked out?

[SF Republican]

So the Israelis won't protect him any longer?

[nuffsenuff]

I have heard rumors of AIDS. But seriously, who would hook up with Arafat?

[Diddle E. Squat]

Apparently they still haven't located the swiss bank accounts...

[cgk]

"As long as there are signs of life in the body of the president, he will remain under treatment," said Tamimi. "It is prohibited in Islam."

The irony of this statement in comparison to the Terri Schiavo situation is striking.

[mainepatsfan]

I heard the KGB had files on him with respect to that.