This article speaks for itself:
Khitam Bahir, Iraq, ”I no longer recognise my insurgent son”
BAGHDAD, 27 September 2007 (IRIN) -
Khitam Bahir, aged 51, says she was shocked when her 24-year-old son Mustafa (not his real name) became an insurgent. An engineering student, he left college in October 2006 to join a local fighting group linked to al-Qaeda in Iraq. She has tried in vain to change his mind.
“I no longer recognise my son since he turned into an insurgent. He used to be a very popular, easy-going and modern person but now he has changed completely. He has decided to fight US-troops, even if he is killed.
“I’m desperate because I didn’t raise my son to be a fighter. At home we gave him love and tenderness, good food, education, health care. His siblings always considered him the most lovely person in our family.”
“He left home in November and is living with other fighters but I don’t know where. Sometimes he drops me a line, saying that he is happy and has helped in an attack. It just breaks my heart and makes me cry.”
“My life has changed since he became an insurgent. I never know if he will be alive tomorrow. His brothers and sisters are confused about his decision. He was going to finish college in two years’ time and had great plans to go to Britain to do a PhD, and now when I urge him to go back to university and leave this life, he tells me that he cannot betray God and hangs up the phone.
“I miss my old son, a person who was always smiling and playful. He was going to get married next year but his fiancée ended the relationship after he told her he was going to help insurgents around Anbar Province, and now she is with her family in Jordan.
“Mustafa was encouraged into this life by two of his friends from Ramadi. They were filling his head with Islamic extremism. I hope my son can change his mind and return to his old life.”
as/ar/cb[END] © IRIN. All rights reserved. More humanitarian news and analysis: http://www.irinnews.org
6 comments:
Even though Mother's are older and wiser than the young, they do not have as great an influence as young friends. This is sad, always.bkp
I can not imagine the grief that mother feels! - Staci (that last comment was deleted by me...it was linked. Sorry!)
This is an instance where a mother's influence would be a positive one. However, I don't think that a mother's advice is always to be taken blindly. Sometimes, as adults, we must stand for what we believe, even if our mothers disagree.Not all mothers know best. A mother's influence must be weighed against convictions and compassion. Even sadder than a mother having less influence than a friend is a mother who stands by and watches her children be harmed by their father. In this culture, women allow men to do unspeakable things to their children - including kill them - in the name of Islam. That is sad, always.
My heart goes out to this mother and this young man's family. But mostly my heart goes out to him as I pray for light and love to break through in his life. cg
so sad...
-kara
Post a Comment