Iraqi kidnappers threaten to behead seven-year-old boy

Ireland Online ^ | 28/10/2004

[presidio9]

Kidnappers holding a seven-year-old Lebanese boy have threatened to behead him if they do not receive £38,000 (€54,592) by Saturday, his father said today.

“We’re a poor family and I love Iraq,” said Abdel-Ghani Hamad. “I’m now selling the stuff in my house just to get by.”

Earlier this month, gunmen abducted his son Mohammed on his way home from school in Diyala province, east of the Iraqi capital, and initially demanded £82,000 (€117,833) for his release, the father said.

Lebanese Foreign Ministry officials have said its embassy in Baghdad was working with Iraqis to secure the boy’s release.

The father said the kidnappers also asked him to sell his belongings and leave Iraq. He refused to say how he learned of their demands, fearing for his son’s life.

He said Mohammed was a smart boy, who loved chess and computers.

The senior Hamad said he has been living in Iraq for 32 years. He owns an orchard and raises chicken, he said, adding his business wasn’t doing well.

“I ask the kind people to call on the kidnappers to release my son,” Hamad said.

[exile]

It's just a joke. I don't want to kill innocent people. Just the savages.

[Protagoras]

Oh, funny. I get it now. Thanks. What a knee slapper.

Is the idea of shotguns and flamethrowers on the other thread a joke too?

I must have a warped sense of humor. Well, somebody does.

[exile]

A warped sense of humor is better than none at all.

[T.Smith]

I wouldn't put it past them to kidnap a 7 year-old either. But, doing it and then asking for money does not fit the terrorist MO. They would be more likely to request we release 100 prisoners in exchange for the child.

No, the only person looking for money is the father and his cohorts.

[T.Smith]

You are correct, sir.

[T.Smith]

Call it a hunch. When have terrorists kidnapped and asked for money? It just doesn't fit their pattern.

Besides, if they needed $45,000 (approx) then there are an endless number of Islamic charities that would give them that and more.

[quant5]

This is mafia style money scams, similar to what happens in Mexico all the time. We can and should expect it to remain turbulent and fairly lawless in Iraqi for some time to come. Not saying I like it, just differentiating between the terrorist cells in Iraqi who make videos with a mafia style scam groups who abduct kids for ransom money.

[monday]

you said; "Call it a hunch. When have terrorists kidnapped and asked for money? It just doesn't fit their pattern."

95% of all the kidnappings in Iraq are for money. They especially target businessmen, professors, and christians. We don't hear about most of them because they are too common and happen at a rate of dozens daily. The only reason this one made the news is because he is a 7 year old boy.

you said; "Besides, if they needed $45,000 (approx) then there are an endless number of Islamic charities that would give them that and more."

lol...this is actually funny. Why isn't everyone in Iraq rich then? I am pretty sure that everyone in the country could use $45,000.

[T.Smith]

I was talking about the terrorists. If the terrorists want money, they can get it from terrorist sympathizers. I wasn't saying that every Iraqi could get money from terrorist supporting organizations. Read slower next time...

[monday]

" I wasn't saying that every Iraqi could get money from terrorist supporting organizations"

Good thing, or they would all be terrorists. Kidnapping has become an industry in Iraq. Most of it is not done by terrorists.

You could be right, this might be a hoax, done by a father looking for handouts, but it could be real too. Since he is Lebanese and owns his own business, I tend to believe him. If he was penniless it wouldn't make sense for anyone to kidnap his son.

[Bad Dog2]

You're probably right about it just taking one.

But Granddad used to say,"never do anything half-@assed - especially when it comes to fightin'".

So how about if we split the difference and do six,

Tripoli, Cairo, Damscus, Mecca, Tehran, and you can pick number six!

What d'ya say?