for decades before being kidnapped a month ago, had been killed by her captors.Posted on 11/17/2004 7:58:39 AM PST by crushelits
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraqis reacted with anger and disbelief Wednesday to news that British-Iraqi aid worker Margaret Hassan, who worked in Iraq (news - web sites) for decades before being kidnapped a month ago, had been killed by her captors.
Irish-born Hassan, 59, moved to Iraq more than 30 years ago after marrying an Iraqi engineer. She learned Arabic and became a pillar of support in local communities, often helping the needy in the face of opposition during Saddam Hussein (news - web sites)'s regime.
Those who knew her, worked with her or were helped by her described Hassan as a formidable woman who went about her work with determination. She helped the disabled, the orphaned and those without water or sanitation calmly and efficiently.
One of the hospitals she regularly supported was a spinal cord clinic in Baghdad run by Qayder al-Chalabi, who said her loss was a huge blow to all Iraqis.
The killers "made a very big mistake. This was the wrong person," he told Reuters Wednesday.
"I cannot imagine that these things could happen to her because she was a very humanitarian person. She felt our suffering, she understood the suffering of the Iraqi people.
"We need to admire and remember her. We must have a ceremony every year to remember her," he said, adding that he believed a statue should be erected in her honor.
Hassan was kidnapped Oct. 19 as she was being driven to work in Baghdad, where she was the director of the local operation of aid organization Care International.
A video released to Arabic news channel Al Jazeera showed a hooded figure shooting a blindfolded woman in the head.
Hassan's husband and British foreign office officials have said they believe the video tape is "probably genuine" and her family has said they believe Margaret Hassan is dead.
'SAVAGE BEASTS'
Militant Islamists have waged a campaign of kidnappings and killings to try to force U.S.-led troops and foreigners to leave Iraq. More than 120 foreigners have been kidnapped in Iraq since April and more than three dozen have been killed.
If confirmed, Hassan would be the first foreign woman killed.
Several foreigners are still believed to be held, including at least one other woman, Polish-Iraqi Teresa Borcz Khalifa. Others include two American men and two French journalists.
"These people are savage beasts," said a man working close to the now shuttered Care offices in Baghdad. He would not give his name for fear of reprisals.
"The whole idea of kidnapping is completely wrong. If people want to resist the occupation they can fight American troops, not kill Iraqis or innocent foreigners," he said.
A campaign to gather information on Hassan's whereabouts was recently launched in Baghdad, with a picture of Hassan holding a sick Iraqi child posted on billboards around the city.
The billboards read: "Margaret Hassan is truly a daughter of Iraq ... She is against the occupation."
"She came to help us and give us prosperity," said Hashim Hassan, a 41-year-old security guard at a surgery. "These terrorists are outsiders ruining Iraq's image. Iraqis would not destroy their own country."
Unemployed Yusuf Ali, 35, said attacking or kidnapping aid workers was a development that would only harm the nation.
"The enemies of Iraq are attacking power stations, oil pipelines and kidnapping foreigners and aid workers at a time when we need them most. Aid workers would be flowing into Falluja right now if they didn't fear decapitation," he said.
I bet this is one tape Al Jazirra won't run over and over and over, freeze framing the moment of impact.
"If people want to resist the occupation they can fight American troops, not kill Iraqis or innocent foreigners"
That is correct; however, the terrorist kidnappers and murderers know that is too difficult. Much easier to kill an unarmed civilian. Safer, too. It is more deadly to combat American etc. forces.
I.E. cowards . . . unmanly
Unemployed Yusuf Ali, 35, said attacking or kidnapping aid workers was a development that would only harm the nation.
"The enemies of Iraq are attacking power stations, oil pipelines and kidnapping foreigners and aid workers at a time when we need them most. Aid workers would be flowing into Falluja right now if they didn't fear decapitation," he said.
Can they find a way to scream this through their mosques? Probably not. :-(
Can we find a way to scream this through the MSM?
Probably not. :-(
How the hell do dozens of police keep getting kidnapped and killed?!
Can't they weed out the inside infiltrators?
I'm furious over that young marine being in hot water over killing the kind of monster that worships a god he believes will welcome him after he has committed these kinds of brutalities and autrocities against the innocent.
I applaud this young Marine for sending one of these monsters to meet the god of his dreams.
"Unemployed Yusuf Ali, 35, said attacking or kidnapping aid workers was a development that would only harm the nation. 'The enemies of Iraq are attacking power stations, oil pipelines and kidnapping foreigners and aid workers at a time when we need them most. Aid workers would be flowing into Falluja right now if they didn't fear decapitation,' he said."
Why is someone with such obvious common sense unemployed?
Excuse me, but is there a right person to kidnap and murder????
Chiraq?
If they want to "resist the occupation," then they'd be best off just knocking it off altogether and letting us leave. As long as they are acting this way, we CAN'T leave.
"The enemies of Iraq are attacking power stations, oil pipelines and kidnapping foreigners and aid workers at a time when we need them most. Aid workers would be flowing into Falluja right now if they didn't fear decapitation," he said.
If these people would stand up and take an active roll for their own freedom it would be over and done with. Unfortunately, nationalism takes a back seat to religion for these primates so it'll never truely happen.
"The whole idea of kidnapping is completely wrong. If people want to resist the occupation they can fight American troops, not kill Iraqis or innocent foreigners," he said.
This really ticks me off. This Qayder al-Chalabi can just eat dirt and die as far as I'm concerned.
She was not a foreigner. She has been an Iraqi citizen for decades. She also converted to Islam. She was not aiding anyone from the coalition.
The terrorists don't want you to convert to Islam. They just want to kill non-Arabs.
Don't forget, kids, you're free to declare such things, THANKS TO THOSE "AWFUL" OCCUPIERS. Crybabies.
"they'd be best off just knocking it off altogether and letting us leave. "
Exactly.
After all, we are not an occupying power, and ARE going to leave. So there is NO reason to "resist the occupation" at all.
These are not "freedom fighters" fighting against foreign domination of their country. These are often foreigners themselves who are fighting to make Iraq a place of terror and chaos, so that the people of Iraq cannot implement self-rule via the elections in January.
They don't want the best for the Iraqi people or nation. They want it to be chaos until they can impose a Muslim theocracy on it, by terrorizing the Iraqi nation not only before but AFTER we would be gone.
Some in our main stream media think these are just "patriotic [Viet Namese] insurgents and freedom fighters" in black. Take their sentences when they talk about these terrorists, and substitute the words they would have used during the VN War and you will see the lens through which they view this war.
"If people want to resist the occupation they can fight American troops, not kill Iraqis or innocent foreigners"
...and if they want to fight American Troops they should wear uniforms and fight us as men!!!
Do these people not understand that if the Americans left, the beheaders would be in their houses? Why are Arabs so blasted illogical? My opinion of Arabs and muslims declines month by month.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.