Karzai Pardons a Child and Sends a Message

Gracen Commentary: It's likely Karzai will be widely criticized for this move, but we applaud it. It sends just the right message about a phenomenon that is all too common: Muslim parents send their children to a madrassah hoping they learn the tenets of a faith and the following occurs: (1) The child is isolated from the parents and all women (see forensic psychiatrist Dr. Jerrold Post on the impact of removing male children from female contact at an early age). (2) The madrassah refused the parents access to their own child, effectively kidnapping the boy. (3) An attempt was made to indoctrinate the boy, and when that failed he was threatened with death. (4) Typical of radicals, they used a child rather than being willing to die themselves (total cowards). Children are increasing used as proxies for adults in terrorist attacks or as human shields. (5) Karzai calls these people the enemies of Islam, and that is perfectly true. (6) Karzai nails Waziri tribesmen and Taliban for two crimes here: child abuse and making war on Afghanistan. And (7) Karzai forgives him, probably a controversial pardon, but because this kid is out front and apologizing, he deserves a pardon. It's also a message to the other children who might want to bail out of radical Islam—and a powerful message to parents to either get more involved in their children's education or get them out of madrassahs altogether. And then there is the matter of one child's redeemed life, in itself of inestimable value. So Gracen Intelligence applauds Hamid Karzai, and hopes he will start arresting radical Islamist imams and closing bad madrassash. However, with the mullahs controlling the Afghan judiciary (thanks to a repugnancy clause we allowed to happen), that's not likely to happen. Hint: Islamists always target the judiciary. It's the fastest, easiest way to control the population. — Morgaan Sinclair for Gracen Intelligence


Karzai pardons 'suicide bomb' boy

President Karzai said that Rafiqullah was not to blame

Afghan President Hamid Karzai has pardoned a 14-year-old boy caught wearing a suicide vest on his way to assassinate a provincial governor.

Rafiqullah had crossed the border from Pakistan and intended to kill Arsala Jamal, governor of Khost province.

Mr Karzai said Rafiqullah had been deceived by the "enemy of Islam" while attending a religious school.

Pardoning him at the presidential palace, Mr Karzai said: "I forgive him and I wish him the best of luck."

Suicide videos

The president said: "Today we are faced with a fearful and terrifying truth, and that truth is the sending of a Muslim child to carry out a suicide attack.

"[His parents] sent him to study at a madrassa (religious school). The enemy of Islam deceived him."

You are now free and forgiven by the people of Afghanistan Hamid Karzai

Rafiqullah's father, Matiullah, said he had been unaware of his son's actions and agreed the boy had been deceived by teachers.

He said when he had asked about his son he was not given an answer.

"I am very happy to have my son back," said Mr Matiullah, who is from South Waziristan.

Rafiqullah said: "I am very happy that I am pardoned and released."

Rafiqullah said he was trained to drive a car and shown suicide attack videos at the madrassa in Pakistan.

He crossed the border and was met by a man who gave him a suicide vest. Rafiqullah said he did not want to carry out the attack but the man threatened to kill him.

He was caught last month wearing the vest on a motorbike in the city of Khost.

Militants have launched a number of suicide attacks against Afghan, Nato and US-led forces over the past two years.

A number of would-be attackers held in recent weeks have been teenagers.

Afghanistan has urged Pakistan to do more to prevent militants from crossing the border to carry out attacks.

In a message to Pakistan, Mr Karzai called for "better relationships, not cheating the children and encouraging them into terrorism and suicide".

With thanks to the BBC: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6899608.stm

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