07-08-2003, 09:52 AM
Agence France Presse
US Muslims have been angered by a state senator who distributed a flier which suggested suicide terrorist attacks might be deterred by burying attackers' bodies with pig entrails.
Guy Glodis, a Democrat in the Massachusetts state legislature, sent a flier to 39 colleagues recounting the execution of Muslim extremists in the Philippines by US Gen. John Pershing in 1913.
In the account, terrorists were executed with bullets dipped in pig's blood, "then buried with pig's blood, entrails, etc." a practice which, according to the leaflet, "instantly barred Muslims from paradise, dooming them to hell." The flier was published by the Boston Globe newspaper.
"Maybe," said the flier, "it is time for this segment of history to repeat itself, maybe in Iraq," implying that such acts might discourage potential suicide bombers.
Muslims are forbidden by their religion from eating pork or having any contact with pigs. Glodis told the Boston Globe of the leaflet: "I didn't write it. I just passed it along to my colleagues. I often share news items of interest with my colleagues."
But American Muslim groups were furious. One group called on the Massachusetts Senate to open an ethics investigation & censure Glodis. "We're outraged," said Raeed Tayeh of the American Muslim Association in North America (AMANA).
"If the senator believes that this is a solution to terrorism & believes such ridiculous notions then this is disturbing for an elected official to have such a belief & (be) spreading such beliefs," Tayeh said in a statement.
"This is… reckless behaviour because the story (about Pershing) is obviously not true," he said. "And it's also not true that if a Muslim comes into contact with a pig he would be denied heaven. This is ridiculous." Glodis told the Boston Globe the Pershing story was a matter of historical fact.
("Senator's Suggestion Angers Muslims" - Arab News June 30, 2003)