American Soldier Tries To Unveil Iraqi Girl By For

[Muslimah]

American Soldier Tries To Unveil Iraqi Girl By Force


Jan 04, 2005


By Omar Al-Faris, JUS And Muhammad Abu Nasr, Free Arab Voice


It has often been said that the Americans occupying Iraq have no understanding of Islam or the Iraqi culture. They blast music from their tanks which is haram, violate the holy places and fail to understand the high level of women within the culture. It has been widely broadcasted that “veiled” woman are oppressed which could not be further from the truth. The veil is a sign of piety and a command of Allah (swt) in order to protect the purity of woman. Woman have the opposite status in Islam than is publicized and this latest incident in Ramadi shows that US soldiers are either are ignorant of the deep meaning of Hijab or don’t care. Either way, it fused a division between local police and US occupation forces yesterday.


Clashes erupted between US troops and Iraqi police at a US checkpoint in the center of Ramadi on Monday morning. Eyewitnesses told Mafkarat al-Islam that the battles broke out at about 10am when a US solider insisted on searching a veiled Iraq girl who was with her mother. The US soldier was determined to lift her veil, claiming that resistance fighters could disguise themselves in women’s clothing.


Witnesses reported that the Iraqi girl refused to lift the veil from her face, causing the American soldier to try to pull it off by force. At that point the Iraqi policemen intervened and clashed with the Americans, sparking a battle that lasted 15 minutes.


The reporter said that the fighting ended with the Americans arresting five members of the local police force, while four others escaped together with the mother and the Iraqi girl who was never unveiled. The stand of the Ramadi policemen against the American occupiers brought them the strong sympathies of the local people.


__________________

[umm Zachariah]

Assalamu aleikum,


Thank you sister for this. These kind of events MUST come into the open.


It is so STRANGE that the Americans that are so well educated and 'caring', but in this case they cannot extend their thinking a little bit. First of all one can question HOW stopping and violating and humiliating people is done, that is one very serious thing. IF controls is to be done, it should truly be done with respect and under correct forms. And when being in a Muslim country one should have at least some basic knowledge of the people and their customs. And if the idea is that Muslims women are oppressed, then why on earth would they be violated and humiliated even more? This does not make any sense at all. The true approach would be to respect them. (I leave the veiling aside here, because in some ways or in some cultures this seems to be an issue that will never be clarified, and I must say I do wonder about the reason...) There seems to be a lot of American soldiers that are women, the most natural, Muslim or not Muslim would be that IF this kind of controls have to be done, then it is women thqt searches women and men men. This is common sense. BUT if it is a way to further humiliate then of course strange approach can be taken.


(I hope I do not have to add that this humiliating action to take the veil off, makes me furious...)


Wasalam

[ronniv93]

Ladies,


I don't think this particular issue has anything to do with anyone thinking that the woman was oppressed because she was wearing a veil. I don't at all see how that would come into play here.


Muslims expect us to understand their perspective, try to understand the soldier's.


They have had women coming up to them pretending to be wounded or in danger or scared or pregnant and the next thing you BOOM! They blow themselves up and anyone/anything nearby.


Wouldn't you be a little cautious and suspicious of people, too?


Then the guy who just blew a hole in a soldier mess hall - he was pretending to be working with the military and all he wanted to do was kill himself and as many people with him as he could.


Forget whatever people may think about the veil, these soldiers are MUCH MORE concerned about survival than anything.

[Muslimah]

Bismillah


as salam alykom and Peace to u ronniv


I was sure u will post a comment here.


Umm my own and I will repeat my own comment might come as surprise for Muslims. I did post this article yes, however, usually I am not inclinded into bringing news about how americans treat Muslims or how russians did the same and a long list of such issues. Why would I expect americans (who according to this relation or the way they are introducing themselves in Iraq as the enemy, or am i mistaken only an enemy goes for full destructions as what is taking place now) to respect anything leave alone religious belifs. They dont belive in the same Allah we believe in, they see Islamic Sharia as brutal and useless. what do we expect from the enemy.


I think MUslims must start educating themselves more, stop being ashamed of introducing themselves as Muslims rather than crying about what the enemy is doing..

[umm Zachariah]

Assalamu aleikum,


Hi Ronniv,


I think, when reading the first post again, just to see if I misunderstood anything, that writing about the veil is some kind of ''background information'' just to update the reader about the importance for a Muslim women to use the veil, and the importance of it to stay in its place. Even so, I know it can be difficult for non-Muslims to understand the significance. Just to try to give you a picture of this - it would be the same as if someone tried to rip off your blouse and expose what you have under. Now I suspect you think - 'but it is not the same' - just try to take my words for it, to me it is the same. Just so you understand how SERIOUS this issue is.


I understand what you say about the blowing up thing, but this was not the issue here, it says it is a CHECKPOINT and of course at a checkpoint people will come and go. If there is a long line of people waiting, most of them Muslims, why on earth would someone prefer to blow them up among Muslims? That does not make much sense to me at least.


Why the symphathy with the American soldiers is low may be that many Iraqis are not interested in having the Americans there to 'help' them at all. They are not wanted and not welcome. I don't say all Iraqis think the same, I just give a general view. But their voices is not to be heard. They feel and I must agree it surely look like it too for me at this distance, that the Americans are occupying the country. There are a lot of similarities, among other things, these checkpoints as the Palestinians also suffers from every day - have you noticed the pattern? So this may be a problem that arises from occupation, everyone want to have their freedom to live their life as they wishes, and not in a way that is forced on them. Even Muslims likes freedom.


Just personal thoughts.


Regards

[umm Zachariah]

Assalamu aleikum,


Sister Muslimah,


I agree with you that Muslims have to WAKE UP, and start behaving as Muslims, in a general sense. The sleepers must open their eyes.


So I agree this is a two side problem, but I also feel that Muslims in general are weaker when it comes having access to weapons and so on than those that oppose Islam and Muslims. But IT could be built up without physical weapons and so forth only by TRUE BELIEF. We cannot win anything if we don't start from the bottom. And that is true belief in the Shahadah.


Maybe my thoughts went a bit aside the topic but thats where they led me.


Wasalam

[ronniv93]

If there is a long line of people waiting, most of them Muslims, why on earth would someone prefer to blow them up among Muslims? That does not make much sense to me at least.

The people who are carrying out these acts now, though, don't seem to care about anyone - Muslim or otherwise. Every week over there, some bombing or attack occurs that ends up hurting Muslims as well as non-Muslims.


I think these people who are doing this are simply crazy, now. I used to think that they perhaps had a statement they wanted to make or a point to prove. Now, I just think most of them doing this are just out of their minds, because they are not only harming the U.S. soldiers (which I understand they don't care one flip about), but they're killing their own Muslim brothers and sisters, too.

[Rehmat]

The people who are carrying out these acts now, though, don't seem to care about anyone - Muslim or otherwise.  Every week over there, some bombing or attack occurs that ends up hurting Muslims as well as non-Muslims.
I think these people who are doing this are simply crazy, now. I used to think that they perhaps had a statement they wanted to make or a point to prove. Now, I just think most of them doing this are just out of their minds, because they are not only harming the U.S. soldiers (which I understand they don't care one flip about), but they're killing their own Muslim brothers and sisters, too.

Are the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) killing Palestinian civilian men, women and children and blowing-up their homes are also included in your list of 'Crazy People' - Or it applies to only those native Arabs of Palestine or Iraq who are fighting against the facist occupation forces who have not only occupied Muslim lands but are torturing and sexually abusing not only the resistance fighters but civilians too.


As far as 'their own Muslim brother' - What the Israeli do to their collaborators with the Palestinian resistance or the soldiers who refuse to kill innocent civilians and children? Iz it possible that such Jooooz are sent to Monte Carlo for a free trip

[laian]

Assalamu alaikum everyone,


I usually do not like to respond to posts of a political nature because at this time with the events such topics can become very sensitive....


But I feel I should present my viewpoint on this particular subject, because I happen to be coming from both sides here.


First, I am an american, a revert to Islam of almost 4 years alhamdulillah. I am horrified at the thought that someone would try to forcibly remove that poor girl's niqab. When you are wearing hijab or niqab, you feel a sort of security that is hard to describe... I do wear hijab alhamdulillah and I would be terrified of going out in public if I thought someone would try to rip it off my head. It is completely degrading, humiliating, and hostile, no matter what the reason.


On the other hand, not only am I an american, but my brother is a soldier in the u.s. army, currently stationed in Iraq. Of course I do not know much about how soldiers behave, but I am appalled at this particular soldier's actions, for sure he should have known better, that his actions would start a fight.


I do know what my brother has told me, and that is in his training and preparation for entering middle eastern countries, the soldiers were told in detail what kinds of customs are practiced in the middle east, and the importance of those practices. One of these they learned about and emphasized heavily was the fact that women cover themselves. I was impressed to hear that he was instructed, if he should be invited into someone's home in Iraq, that he should not try to wander around the house and should stay in the room where they put him, because he would be invading on the privacy of the women of the house. Above all, they were emphasized to show respect for the culture of the Iraqi's.


They were also instructed not to say or do anything that may cause a fight, as they urgently want to keep violence at a minimum. This includes that the soldiers are not allowed to debate about religion with anyone, nor talk about their own religion or wear religious symbols of any kind.


Again I was impressed at the heavy emphasis placed on keeping respect for the culture, and for trying to keep the peace.


Whether or not that actually happens, I do not know. I do know for a fact that my brother follows these guidelines, and I would expect him to show respect for the muslim practices, since he has a sister who is muslim


As far as keeping the peace, the u.s. "says" that is their goal there..... but who really knows what happens. I have heard many different sides of the story about why the u.s. is there, why the Iraqi's don't want them there, why there continues to be violence and attacks.... I don't want to speculate on these issues, but let's just say that the americans don't know everything about what the iraqi people want, and the iraqi's don't know everything about the american's intentions.


There is also the issue of the brutal attacks. Every time I hear of an attack on u.s. troops in iraq I become so afraid that my brother will be hurt or possibly even killed while he is there. As ronniv said, attackers will disguise themselves as anything to get close to their target, and I do not blame that soldier for being extra cautious. He was probably following orders, and also acting for his own life and safety. However, I do not agree with the manner in which he did it, and if all u.s. troops are receiving the same training that my brother described to me, he should have known better, and I'm sure if that is the case he was punished for causing a fight that could have broken out into something much worse.


In short, as an american, I know the attitude of americans, and I would not trust that all u.s. soldiers are behaving appropriately. But on the other hand, from what my brother described to me, it seems the army at least is making an appropriate effort to keep their presence in iraq as painless for the people there as possible.


I am afraid for the muslims in this situation because I feel they are being manipulated, and if I were there I would not feel comfortable or secure in such a situation. I am also afraid for my brother's life and I hope that he exercises extreme caution whereever he goes. There really can't be a middle ground that satisfies everyone... I just hope inshaAllah this whole situation is over as quickly as possible and as many people survive as possible. If my brother dies, then it was his time, no one can kill him if Allah does not wish it. The same goes for everyone involved or affected by this situation, whether muslim or not.


The indecencies that people are exposed to because of soldiers such as the one in this particular event are horrid, and again I hope this situation will be over as soon as possible. in my opinion, that soldier should have contacted the iraqi policeman and requested an appropriate method to search the girl in question.


It is unfortunate how this conflict is thrown into the faces of innocent people. And I understand it is easy to blame american soldiers when things like this happen. But muslims in iraq are not the only ones affected. My cousin is also in the military and has served in iraq. He returned home safe alhamdulillah, but he is severly affected emotionally and mentally.


As you can see, as I said, I am coming from both sides here... it's too hard for me to try to argue about what's going on or conjecture about what should or should not be going on, who is to blame, etc. All I can do is hope that the individuals involved in this, my brother, the muslim people in iraq, the soldiers with family at home... will survive. inshaAllah.


Allaho alim.

[lifutushi]

Assalamualaykum....


if those US soldiers are too traumatic to let a veiled muslimah to pass a checkpoint fearing the hidden bomb, why don't they just go back to their home? sure they would feel much safer at home....