Red Mosque siege survivor speaks

PAOLO, SUDBURY, ONT, CANADA — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 12:27:43 GMT

THIS IS SAD...REALLY SAD...HOW CAN THESE PEOPLE BE SO BRAIN WASHED

Red Mosque siege survivor speaks

Ron Dearborn Heights Mi — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 12:28:47 GMT

What do you want from me? Sympathy? When did schools become warehouses for guns? When did schools become the center of armed resistance against the governments. I am very sorry that innocent prople are subject to such sensless violence but what I know about this school in the months prior to the assult was that the leaders of the school were using the students to advance a particular from of religious theocracy in the regioun. The religious leaders used the children of the school to advance their own adgenda and those leaders should be placed in prisons for the endangerment of innocent lives.

Red Mosque siege survivor speaks

G. Raymond — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 12:50:10 GMT

No sympathy.

"The mosque’s clerics had provoked and embarrassed the government of President Gen. Pervez Musharraf by calling for jihad against his government, and attempting to establish Taliban-style laws in the country’s capital."

Government by its nature isn't perfect. But inciting violence to establish a different imperfect government is worse. She should have worked to change the religeous clerics approach - or fought them.

Red Mosque siege survivor speaks

Mike from SWA — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 13:08:02 GMT

What the Moslem world needs is birth control. 8 kids in a 2 room hovel... no wonder the want to kill themselves and anyone that has better. We should have not supported religious fanatics over the Communists. Communism is definatly a step forward for the third world.

Red Mosque siege survivor speaks

Lillian M. Power — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 13:10:18 GMT

One word: IDIOT - these backwards fools are going to be the death of us all. Its time America stands up and stop pussy footing around with the likes of these people.

Red Mosque siege survivor speaks

Lianne — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 13:12:27 GMT

I wonder why you are so obviously glorifying this young woman's "stuggle" when the struggle ultimately supports anarchy-death-dictatorship then oppression!

Red Mosque siege survivor speaks

Basit Ijaz — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 13:12:43 GMT

This is not a struggle for political or material gains. There is a strong ideological motive behind, whether it is right or wrong is another matter, but there is a motive, not just worldly.

Red Mosque siege survivor speaks

jdenishuggard/west vancouver/b.c.canada v7v 4a4 — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 13:41:28 GMT

hello- i am 70+1/2/not atypist/msnbc teaches me a hella lot/these people are TOTALLY controlles by their ''religion''so sad/in vcv we have perhaps 200,000 persians.\/iranians-they wood like to be part of canada/no t MY FAVOURITECOUNTRY-usa. I am jdenis huggard/604 926 3661/i am assissting many usa based financial pros/without exstacting HUGE sums-good reporting/what the hell would i do without internet

Red Mosque siege survivor speaks

CMC Mpls, MN. — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 13:49:01 GMT

They are nothing but a bunch of Wacko"s

Red Mosque siege survivor speaks

Al Fort lauderdale, Florida — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 14:02:09 GMT

I feel sorry for these poor misled people. They live in the savage past of their culture and base their entire existence upon hate and ignorance....... Nevertheless, if martyrdom is what they seek then they should be obliged.......

Red Mosque siege survivor speaks

SHAZIA ARAIN,CHARLOTTE,NC — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 14:02:49 GMT

It shows the naivity these girls have regararding their actions.Not once did she mention to you that those seciruty forces were also protecting their home (their homeland)and that they were also following God's will to fight terrorists.These inncoent kids are brain washed by Mullahs and as those 40 of her girl friends burned to their deaths...how innocent and stupid of them to think they were martyred...not obeying the law of their govt. is not jihad no matter how loudly they proclaim it to be so. if anything they have the blood of those innocent security official who gave thier lives while following and defending the law.

Red Mosque siege survivor speaks

Trilby, NY, NY — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 14:06:04 GMT

Why take a picture of anyone in a burqa? There is nothing to photograph. Take a picture of a pile of black fabric instead.

Red Mosque siege survivor speaks

Barak Obama — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 14:08:08 GMT

sounds like a typical cult. Just listen to her state everyone was "martyred".

Red Mosque siege survivor speaks

James — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 14:30:07 GMT

This woman speaks like a one-sided ludicrously biased robot.

Red Mosque siege survivor speaks

Chris, Atlanta, GA — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 14:32:23 GMT

What a horrible situation... and brainwashing.. I love the courage of those who tell others to die for Martyrdm and Allah..People who ask others to strap a bomb to their chest yet never seem willing to do it themselves... MUCH like the head of the red Mosque who was caught sneaking out of the facility dressed like a woman...

Red Mosque siege survivor speaks

Barry Henderson — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 14:33:06 GMT

I found her tale a tad crazy. Forty of her classmates died after the government troops poured gasoline and set fire to the compound. Then a torrential downpour (from Allah no less) saved her.

Red Mosque siege survivor speaks

Randy, Long Beach, CA — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 14:42:12 GMT

I wonder if these students had rolls of quarters in their pockets...

Red Mosque siege survivor speaks

kashif aftab — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 14:45:11 GMT

Yep these people like the Red Mosque crowd are in a cult like state. To put it simply they have lost it. Totally brain washed.

All they want is death. But not death by suicide,but by being killed by someone else. Some one they consider an enemy because only then will they be considered martyrs.

They are crazy!

Red Mosque siege survivor speaks

John Papadia — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 14:45:14 GMT

Every one reaps what they sow. Israel, Philistene, Russia, Afganistan, Taliban and now Pakistan.

Have not all these created by so called developed and advanced people?

Red Mosque siege survivor speaks

Brian — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 14:45:20 GMT

Nothing a little martyrdom can't handle. "I had wished martyrdom, but Allah had saved me to continue the struggle." Well, If you wished martyrdom, why did you wet your burqa and breath through it? Stupid idiot. Nice job not crying once for your 40 dead friends you watched die. It's rediculous when a religion that is supposed to teach you love and compassion makes you so heartless. If Allah is so involved in your life enough to make it rain to save you from the fire, then why doesn't he end your "struggle". You radical Muslims are so stupid. Maybe Allah makes you struggle so much because you deserve a crappy life.

Red Mosque siege survivor speaks

J Kever Nantucket, MA — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 14:45:29 GMT

It is sad that in this age of such advanced communications throughout the world, that not everyone uses what's available to learn about each other's beliefs. Further, it is a shame that we who don't understand each other beliefs, choose to fight and die over them instead of 'allowing' them each to exist in a communicative, collaborative, respectful way. It is sad reality in many places around the globe and fighting will never solve it.

Red Mosque siege survivor speaks

Ali Mustansir — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 14:54:02 GMT

It is a sad situation. The government needs to spend money to teach and make children well rounded with education both in science and technology and in Religion. This way they could have a balance in life.

Life is a very precious commodity whether it is of a government soldier or a young madrassah kid or an outsider. Hope this is the lesson that comes out of it. Rules should be made in the Parliment by a duly elected legislature in a free and fair election

Red Mosque siege survivor speaks

David - OKC OK — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 14:55:58 GMT

Martyrdom? In this day and age, that kind of old Islamic thinking is ridiculous. These ignorant people are so brain washed, that we ought to martyr all of them, by going into N.W. Pakistan, whether they like it or not, and kill OBL and his cronies. Those guys are the epitome of evil, yet these young, brain washed kids are lining up to die. For what? HELL!

Red Mosque siege survivor speaks

Docko, N O La. — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 14:56:01 GMT

Some marriages in that country as in others around it are arranged and the arrangement in so many cases is that the child marries his/her fist cousin. It is a well known fact that offsprings from such marriages are mentally unstable, so we should not expect anything but fanaticism.
In an opposite view, in the United States we have violent crime and the answer is imprisonment with possible/probably early release; to commit crimes again. In the views of the middle east, we are stupid because we do not elimenate our problems but allow them to strike again.
Both sides criticize too quickly. We are each trying to get the other to be like ourselves instead of trying to live with each other, without harm to one another.

Red Mosque siege survivor speaks

fhd , chicago — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 15:03:09 GMT

That is the main purpose of burqa.... not to show piece women just like in "Modern" and "enlightened" countries where women and their bodies have become nothing other than a show piece for the lusty eyes of men..... burqa is a beautiful protection for the women, not a restriction.

Red Mosque siege survivor speaks

jerr, Cambridge, Canada — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 15:07:04 GMT

It is interesting to read these posting suggesting she is warped and brainwashed. While most Americans believed GWB, even though he lied over and over and over. Even today there are # of Americans that believe what the GWB said. I do not see any difference between them and this girl.....

Red Mosque siege survivor speaks

JJ — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 15:08:48 GMT

People there are just as "brainwashed" by their religion as many are here in the U.S. Wake up, people. News media gives people like Pat Robertson and Fred Phelps free rein to spew similar vehement sentiments as their Islamic cousins, which in turn encourages violence in the name of religion. This is centuries old and nothing new.
Many God have mercy on their souls.

Red Mosque siege survivor speaks

Robert Boyce ,Manchester, New Hampshire — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 15:14:53 GMT

I feel sorry for her as I know she is not at fault for the beliefs she has been fed, still I relize she could be the next bomber walking into a market to kill in the name of god. How do we deal with the few preachers who promote hate and perpetuate this madness? Saddam would have just killed them all. Will we be driven to such lowness.

Red Mosque siege survivor speaks

Luis Cervantes — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 15:15:36 GMT

of course no sympathy from the "Christian" nation. lol. ofcourse u never use violence to get rid of an imperfect government and establish another imperfect government!!! hmmm, what kind of dummy would ever do that??? hmmmmm. ofcourse those brave Pakistani soldiers were just doing their job, just like the dozen other times they've just done their job so well according to our own governments reports on their human rights records. lol. the good thing here is that we are all trying to understand people of a culture totally different from ours and are not resorting to the self righteousness of our "superiority" or lumping millions of people into a general category. and ofcourse lets bring God into this since the New Testament is filled with examples of how we should not wait for God to render judgement and instead take it upon ourselves to do it for him, i can hear pat robertson somewhere utttering a prayer right now for the bombs to start raining down as if divine will from above or maybe he is still just praying for the death of a supreme court judge or hugo chavez, sounds so much better than praying to Allah for your enemies deaths, but what kind of person does that? well at least we can always stand for truth and justice and show those uncivilized people that if you have a government that is good and democratic and kind then we leave you alone just look at our buddies: Jordan, Suadi Arabia (none of those guys have ever messed with us), Iraq (1980's Saddam), Egypt, Qatar, UAE, and so on. all sarcasm aside lets be real for once. first we are never going to defeat terrorism it is a tactic not an opponent. killing innocents should be no more acceptable to us than it is to them, additionally it only creates more vendettas than eliminates them, try remembering the moral of most roman and greek mythology stories (AKA circle of violence, AKA never ending revenge). i believe this country of ours is the amongst the best if not the best place to live but i dont put blinders on and pretend as if we are perfect or have any more right to live and hope than anyone else in any other country just to have cheap gas (although not that cheap). if you really want a wake up call try putting some of the more unsavory comments here right next to the "terrorists" comments of us, and also include some quotes from nazi types in 1940's germany. then you will see where the real disease lies on all sides. HATE and IGNORANCE.

Red Mosque siege survivor speaks

John Lennon — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 15:15:47 GMT

Imagine no religions. Nothing to kill or die for.

Red Mosque siege survivor speaks

John Brown, CT — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 15:24:21 GMT

-- Time for the followers of this indoctrination to learn that you reap what you sew -- Not very bright at all and don't want to hear it

Red Mosque siege survivor speaks

Dan Hutton, eolia, mo. — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 15:24:35 GMT

I feel sorry for this young lady. She will never know the joy of freedom of speach, religion, dress, do what she wants without the government telling her what to do and how to act.

Thank god for our forefathers......She would love Hillary.

Red Mosque siege survivor speaks

Ryan J. — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 15:26:36 GMT

dont be so ignorant and full of hate that it blinds you. The women in the mosque were not armed or fighting. They were killed in cold blood by setting fires and bullets. The army killed as much as possible and they did it freely. Its not a secret anymore in Islamabad that at least 200 women and children have been killed in the raid. These were so called hostages??? (by army n govt). Army never had good intentions either to negotiate. The militants in the mosque agreed to the terms and were going to surrender, but after their agreement, the draft was changed immediately and were given only 1/2 hour to agree or die in the operation. The militants at that point didnt agree cuz they couldnt trust the govt anymore. so both sides are dirty and there is lot of innocent blood spilled in that mosque as well. the fact that govt is hiding the death toll is admission of their guilt.

Red Mosque siege survivor speaks

Hans, Austin, Texas — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 15:33:33 GMT

Good riddance. The only ones I feel sorry for are the soldiers that were killed and their families. The islamic crazies got what they deserved. Hopefully Musharref will take care of a few more of these terrorist training academies soon.

Red Mosque siege survivor speaks

jon doe — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 15:34:53 GMT

americans posting on this thread are truely ignorant.
people revolt when they have issues with their government. isnt it their "freedom" to go against a government that is corrupt and not listening to the people?

if the government and political process actually worked there maybe they could change it. heck even if it did change the US will most likely attack it with some BS reason and lies.

maybe its not them whose brainwashed but you people are.

just because islam is old doesnt mean it is incorrect. democracy is old as well, does it mean now its outdated and we need a change? how does one determine when an ideology is outdated? every 50 years? every 100 years?
go learn something you idiots

Red Mosque siege survivor speaks

Mr Pickle — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 15:38:24 GMT

Brainwashed -
Its WorldWideWaco, ..what to do what to do. How do you get brainwashed people to listen to you if there are hundreds+ leaders feeding them this crap? Maybe we should focus on taking out Fanatic Islamic Leaders, get a list and go down, c'mon the mob does it, why can't the CIA get this right. Don't make it a seceret either......take em out and let the world see.

Red Mosque siege survivor speaks

VM — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 15:39:13 GMT

To have such young people believe so much in what their teachers have told them is scary. To put one's life on line just because your teachers told you to is commendable depending on where you look from. To have such brainwashing power must surely put Christian evangelists to shame. To believe that what one knows is the only truth is a sign of closed-mind and has caused lot of modern day strife and that's the reason Christians and Muslims are at war with each other.

http://tscali.blogspot.com

Red Mosque siege survivor speaks

Karen kerr — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 15:45:29 GMT

Burquas are not for the protection of women, the are a tool that men use to excuse their own lust. Cover the women up from head to to so they dont have to use any self control. Show an ankle and you asked to be raped. Let an arm slip out and you are asking for some guys lust to go out of control, either way, its the womans fault. Men are blameless when hussies allow such "shameless" exposure.

Red Mosque siege survivor speaks

David Barr, Oklahoma City, OK — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 15:47:24 GMT

She is very sophisticated in indoctrination techniques. I would say the reporter needs to leave this type of interview for more highly trained or experienced reporters. I believe this woman is an agent. Very highly trained.

Red Mosque siege survivor speaks

Dug, Salt Lake, Utah — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 15:47:36 GMT

Relgious fanatics have always been around. We have them right here in our country. If you dont think we have US citizens that would rise up and kill their neighbors if their religious leaders told them to, you're living in a dream world.
Its another example of organized religions being twisted by the warped thoughts of someone who'd been dubbed a "leader". We see this the way our western media wants us to see it. People elsewhere see us as lemmings, following Bush off the cliff. I'm not saying what happened in Pakistan is right or wrong, I'm saying we should put ourselves in the other guys shoes... or burkha... we may not change our minds but at least we'll be looking at the issues more objectively.
Oh, and about it being a "school"? Look back over history and conquering armies always killed the priests and scholars first...followed by anyone truly educated. Nazis, Soviets, Vietnamese, Iranians, Japanese, Chinese, Peruvian rebels,and... Americans. Look how many religious leaders we have at Gitmo.

Red Mosque siege survivor speaks

Albert Knight, Glendale, CA — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 15:52:08 GMT

Who will be Pakistan's Ataturk? Who will shave the beards off the Mullahs, or slit their throats (as Ataturk did in Turkey),and drag that part of the world into the modern age? Poor, poor people, so intelligent and so betrayed by the ultra-ignorant...

Red Mosque siege survivor speaks

Gary Schear, Bozeman Montana — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 15:54:49 GMT

Brainwashed? No more so than Christian fundamnetalists.
A word to the wise, protect you secular nation as if your life and freedom depended on it. Because...it does.
No Christian Theocracy in America!

Red Mosque siege survivor speaks

lance manmuscle — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 16:00:37 GMT

What you want me to sympathize with these religious fanatics. typical pansy ass liberal media story. trying to show that these people are victims. hell no they are cowards, hiding arms in a mosque. killing people and then fleeing back to the mosque for protection. nothing but cowards. like the palestinians hiding behind a human wall at a mosque. pure cowards. wipe them out.

Red Mosque siege survivor speaks

A. Tunde, Los Angeles, Ca — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 16:01:39 GMT

Is a pity to see some part of Pakistan turning back the clock. Brainwashed that is what I will call this kind of religion belief. They need to wake up and smell the roses.

Red Mosque siege survivor speaks

Mitch Whose — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 16:04:17 GMT

Jonestown...Branch Davidians...The Manson Family...Heaven's Gate...Order of The Solar Temple...The Church of the Lamb of God (Ervil LeBaron)...Shoko Asahara and AUM Supreme Truth (Sarin gas, Tokyo)...The Red Mosque...Taliban...Muslim Brotherhood...Al Qaeda...etc. All crazy cults based on the idea that they are god's chosen ones. All brainwash their followers and have caused loss of life. History has repeated itself at the Red Mosque.
Unfortunately, many world religions start off this way with a core of fervent believers willing to do anything for their god. Hmmm...makes you think.

Red Mosque siege survivor speaks

Dale, Columbia SC — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 16:21:46 GMT

Its about time countries like Pakistan start ridding its itself of vermin like this. I only wish the U.S. could storm the Mosques in our country and rid ourselfs of these Muslim vermin.The only way to stop the spread of radical Islam is to follow Pakistans example. And, why does this article seem to be sympathetic towards the girl? WAKE UP! She is a follower of the same teachings of the terrorists we are trying to exterminate in Iraq!

Red Mosque siege survivor speaks

George McKinney Charleston WV — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 16:28:04 GMT

You see so much of the bull from muslims that "Allah" is the one god. Well, a "god" that calls you to murder innocent people, oppress women, and send starving children off to die, while the poo-ba's sit fat and safe, is not my god. But this "god" has been around a long time, whether he is called Moloch, Baal, Shaitan, or Allah. And his attributes and followers are still the same - keep the people ignorant, command by terror, and murder anyone who stands for truth.

Red Mosque siege survivor speaks

RR Carlsbad, CA — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 16:31:09 GMT

notice how thier "leaders" never seem to put themselves in harms way. They just recruit the youngers and convince them that what they do is the will of allah. was not one of thier "leaders" trying to sneak out in a burqua?

Red Mosque siege survivor speaks

david baltimore,md. — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 16:39:41 GMT

Cut off the head and the body will die....it is not a coincidence that you never see any of the Mullahs who spew the Jihadi hatred particpipating in the suicide bombings...after all one of the two leaders of the Red Mosque tried to sneak out in a burqua...why wasnt he willing to die for the cause?
Our policy should focus on the termination with extreme prejudice of the clerics who are leading these fools...we know where and who these clerics are...it doesnt take super intelligence to send someone into a mosque and get th etenor of the sermon...when these islamic cowards understnad that they are now the targets we will see how many are ready to die for what they espouse...islamic fundamentalism is nothing but the replacement of secular dictators with religious ones...after all do the iranians have more freedom under the Mullahs than they did under the Shah?....were the Shah's secret police any worse than the current morals police?
Cut off the head and the body will die

Red Mosque siege survivor speaks

Dave the I.T. Guy — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 16:41:21 GMT

This whole thing is kind of scary. Pakistan has nukes.
If Musharraff falls, the mullahs (including their Taliban friends) who take over will have a nuclear arsenal at their fingertips.
What's equally as frightening are the contingency plans India has for the possibility of Islamic revolution in Pakistan. (And you KNOW they have plans in place)
Pre-emptive strikes against Paki command-and-control facilities with nuclear warheads during the chaos?

Red Mosque siege survivor speaks

rob, oakland, ca. — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 16:42:42 GMT

This is but one mosque in Pakistan. I hope Musharraf cleans up all the mosques and Saudi-funded hate school madrassas throughout his country. If that means killing more extremists, martyrdom-seekers, and jihadis then so be it. The religion of peace, indeed. Hopefully, he will exterminate the terrorists in the lawless border areas of his country, too.

Red Mosque siege survivor speaks

piglizard420 — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 16:53:42 GMT

To John Doe -

Any religion or society that promotes any sort of violence to support any type of cause is wrong. It goes against survival of the species, which just happens to be the cornertosne of all life.

Red Mosque siege survivor speaks

JOHN HAWCO — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 16:55:06 GMT

the u.s. government needs to get tough with saudia arabia. the financeing to build these so called religous schools (madrasses)all across pakistan and other muslim countries comes from sadia arabia! they also finance muslim schools and programs in the u.s prison system and other western nation prison systems to get hardened criminal to kill us here. jose padilla, the dirty bomber, and richard reed, the shoe bomber are examples. the u.s. government needs to wake up and understand that saudia arabia is our enemy. all these madrasses must be closed down. they are a breeding ground for suicide bombers. sometimes i believe that allah is SATAN. WHAT GOD ASKS ITS FOLLOWERS TO STRAP EXPLOSIVES TO THEIR BODIES TO MURDER INNOCENT MEN, WOMAN, AND CHILDREN IN HIS NAME?

Red Mosque siege survivor speaks

kashif aftab — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 17:09:11 GMT

The problem of these fanatics arose from the funding from countries like Saudi Arabia. Yes the wahabis in Saudia and their backers funded madarssas all over the poor muslim countries around the world.

Why because countries like Pakistan where the literacy rate is less than 50% and poverty rate is more than 70% can be a fertile breeding ground.

They would pump money into these madarssas and then these madarssas would market themselves to poor parents as the only respite for their kids.

So now the poor Parents would be told guess what we know you cant afford education for your kids and meals etc, send your kids to us we will educate them and cloth them and feed them and house them but the best part you will not have to pay for anything.

The parents poor and uneducated as they are, were like what could be better. But what they didnt know is that they were in majority of the cases striking a deal with the devil itself.

That is how they got them and that is how this cult called the Taliban got propogated. Through a so called free education system.

How do you solve this problem very simple. Use their techniques on them. Instead of spending billions on arms spend millions on education and jobs and giving these poor illetrate people a future.

Anything else is just stroking the fires.

Red Mosque siege survivor speaks

RAR, Dallas TX — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 17:17:31 GMT

Just another example of religious fanaticism exacting its costs. They are no different than any other religious extremest.
This is exactly why our forefathers established the USA with a doctrine of seperation of Church and State.
Makes me think of all those folk that cast their vote for GW "because he's a Christian".

Red Mosque siege survivor speaks

Go Yankees, NY, NY — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 17:25:18 GMT

When reading her story you must be aware of the Arab/Islamic cultural traits to exaggerate and claim victimhood. When she says 40 of her friends were killed in the fire, it is likely that a few (6-8) of her friends died in that fire. When she writes about the government suddenly erecting barb wire fences and then assaulting the compound, she leaves out the several days of warning and negociation in between. Just my observations, since I have lived in that culture for awhile.

Red Mosque siege survivor speaks

Mitch Memphis TN — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 17:27:39 GMT

I pray that the Lord will have merecy on the souls of these Mullahs who preach hate by using religion. Islam is now seen as a religion of hate by the non-Muslimic world.

I fear that the Islamic facist will push non-Muslims to far. Americans may one day wake up and bring the full brunt of it's civilian and military resources down on these Mullahs spreading hate and terror. By God, I actually feel sorry for these poor bastards. When this happens America will do what it did in World War II. Total destruction will come to those who keep preaching hate and terror.

The Mullahs should read history to see what happens to dictators in our world.

The American people are fair, tolerant and peace seeking people. Many Americans have died to bring peace and freedom not just to Americans but for all the peoples of the world.

Just ask any old timer who witness the cruelty provided by Nazis and Japanese Imperialist.

Red Mosque siege survivor speaks

Rick L, Indianapolis — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 17:36:58 GMT

All Islamists are f'ing crazy. Completely and utterly crazy. It is so tpyical to hear them speak as if they were living in medieval times - islamists have not evolved - they are what we were 100's - 1000's of years ago - cruel inhumane brutes. Christiantiy has evolved and we are better for it - hell, all other religions are more evolved in their thinking than these psuedo-sapiens. They desire death... no creature on this planet desires death, not even dogs! Look at these people fighting each other all the time - over nothing. Their language is that of a mindless drone... I'm not sure if they are deserving of our pity. I say leave them alone - they do a very good job of killing themselves so let them continue doing it for another thousand years. After all they stopped contributing to humanity a long, long time ago.

Red Mosque siege survivor speaks

jorge — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 17:38:19 GMT

The only reason we don't look like that over here with our brainwashing religion--Christianity--is that we have separation of church and state. Without it, we would look just like this.

How is what happened there any different than what happened in Waco, Texas a decade ago? It's no different at all and yet the republicans demanded special hearings to determine if the the poor little Branch Davidians' rights had been violated by a dictatorial govt instead of whether people were brainwashed by a sexually perverted egomaniac. Oh, that was okay, was it? But rebelling against a govt run by a general is unacceptable??

Is it because Bush supports this particular general despite the fact that this general almost certainly knows where bin-Laden is and almost certainly communicates with him and hides him? And might that be why Bush no longer considers capturing bin-Laden a priority?

What's sad is that we support a despot who talks out both sides of his mouth to the point where they'd rather have a "Taliban-style govt" over him. Of course, we have to take the word of the media that it is a Taliban-style govt. It couldn't possibly be that maybe they're only saying that because Bush supports the general who runs that country.

As for the comments that they deserve no sympathy, I don't recall reading about them asking for any. This girl is ready to die for what she believes in. That used to be laudable to Christians in America--until this war started and they were afraid they might get told to put their money where their mouths are. And if using the word "martyred" is evidence of cult-like indoctrination, need I remind you all what religion goes overbaord using that very word to praise its own suicidal kooks?

Red Mosque siege survivor speaks

johnsmith, london — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 17:47:57 GMT

This terrorist camp was in the capital of PAKISTAN!!!!!!....Think about the situation in the Tribal Areas, Hundreds of Madrassas Thousands of TERRORISTS.
BELIEVE ME IT IS TRUE

Red Mosque siege survivor speaks

Jen, Indiana — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 17:48:54 GMT

This girl makes Scientologists sound perfectly reasonable.

And that, folks, takes some doing!

Red Mosque siege survivor speaks

Khalid Khan, Canada — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 17:51:08 GMT

This story remind me of David Quresh in Waco, Texas. At that time I was in Dallas. I watched it live how FBI and other agencies had storm their temple. I find lot of similarities between Red Mosue and David Quresh cult.

Red Mosque siege survivor speaks

SB, Washington DC — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 18:02:15 GMT

Has anyone ever just stepped back a bit and thought for a moment....

All I can see is superficial comment and perhaps that is what is wrong with us - ready to pass comment and judgement without thought or introspection

Does The western world has a fairly large hand in this entire mess???

The Oil that we want to consume enriches a few potentates who 'throw' a few bones at these poor 'muslim' brothers in their own and neighboring countries by funding these 'madrassas' to 'occupy' the minds of these people so they can point them away from their fair share of the wealth that they are stealing! The entire ecnomy is based on oil and so there really are no jobs but handouts. Pakistan and Afghanistan does not have oil but they are part of the Islamic chain and provide labor for a lot of these countries - truck drivers, policemen, etc. and sure the folks on our side who 'control' and orchestrate things are fully in the know!

Oil is one of the most fungible commodities in this world. If OPEC does not want to sell it to us - guess what it is worthless in the ground - and they NEED the money - so what is the worst that can happen? They will sell it to the chinese and the chinese will sell it to us. Today as much as our administration derides Venezuela it remains a major supplier! So the only way to really inflate the chaos and channel the funds through select channels and private equity funds and so on you need perpetual chaos!
Now there is talk of 'selling' 40 Bil worth of arms to Saudi / Egypt and Israel. Sure we are going to get paid - through inflated prices on teh oil that we are to purchase which has ostensibly been protected by these arms ?

So all of these 'martyrs' are no more than innocent victims of the tremendous greed that pervades our society and SO ARE WE the living martyrs as our daily lives are constantly tormented by these same acts perhaps in different ways!

What we need are selfless statesmen and scholars not the run of the mill politicians who cannot see beyond the bridge of their nose!
We can only blame ourselves for the situation.
Think carefully who you choose to be your leaders!

Mahatma Gandhi said
There is enough on this earth for every man's need
But never enough for ONE MAN's GREED !

Red Mosque siege survivor speaks

JoeOvercoat — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 18:05:52 GMT

How very sad - both her 'martyr' state of mind, and MSNBC's glorification of this individual. It is great to hear both sides of the story, but this leaves so much untold that it is not a balanced presentation, but rather a story out of context (ironically, what isn't said is that she supports a tyranny that far outstrips anything she has been subjected to, yet).

Red Mosque siege survivor speaks

J Pinkerton Snoopington — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 18:18:30 GMT

It sounds like the forces that took them out underwent training from Janet Reno

Red Mosque siege survivor speaks

Dr. Rakesh Kumar — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 18:22:42 GMT

HATRED BEGETS HATRED.
INTOLERENCE LEADS TO DESTRUCTION.
If you think yours is the only right way of life, and others have either to conform to your way or have no right to exist then ultimatly you will destroy yourselve by fighting your own people.
Tolerence to others is what "GOD" "ALLAH" expects from you. All the people whom you despise are still in this world because "HE" wishes so. Then who are you to change it.
Do not try to kill others in the name of religeon.

Red Mosque siege survivor speaks

John Fortisue-Smith — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 18:33:44 GMT

Re-garding the Red Mosque, I have nothing but praise for the Pakistan military in carrying out it duty in this so called place of religious instruction. That is armed to the teeth, why? given Islam's love of mankind. Who are these Arsehole mullahs, who preach hate, they deserve to die a horrible death, and will never see paradise, they are not martyrs for their religion, but common muderers, who have no right to enter the Kingdom of God. They should be removed from this earth with urgent dispatch, letting not their shadow darken this earth. And if the Pakistan government cannot control this scum, the the USA Russia China, should attact the areas of Pakistan and its tribal areas and wipe these scum of the face of the earth. As for Amnesty International you need to pack up your bags, as you are nothing more then defenders of intolerance, who's legal team are nothing more than parasites on the backs of humanity. Think about it, all I see day in day out is Islamic bastards killing their own innocent women and children, and those carrying out these terrible crimes are promised paradise and 20 virgins in the afterlife, get real wake up, you bloody unadulterated scum.

Red Mosque siege survivor speaks

WDanW Dallas Texas — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 18:40:30 GMT

Just remember, these people are coming to your town, building their mosques, planting their seeds of hate and terrorism. And, there is nothing you can do about it..our society is open to it, our government wont do anything about it. So, remember when you hear their calls for your death, we didnt do anything to stop them. Why?

Red Mosque siege survivor speaks

Nathan, Memphis, Tn — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 18:40:56 GMT

It demonstrates the fact we're fighting the war on terror in the wrong place. We'll never win on the battlefield if the next generation follows the same path. The Arab dictatorships preach cooperation but allow these schools to persist,while our State Dept. holds them up as partners in the war on terror.

Red Mosque siege survivor speaks

John Doe, USA — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 18:44:52 GMT

These people we are reading about believe in a religious philosophy that was created centuries before the world was known--NOT TO BE FLAT!

They are completely out-of-touch with 21st century Earth.

Keep in mind...these people don't go to school to learn pluralistic/tolerant values. They ONLY learn the (us vs. them) hatred dogma of their "religion"---and that they 'only' are morally superior and that the rest of us are second class humans who have cast our own fate by not beliving in their centuries old religious philosophy.

Yet...They have zero evidence that their philosophy is real. Zero Evidence...Nada...Nothing in hand.

It is ignorence that we are witnessing today on a pandemic scale that could very well lead to WW3 with mushroom clouds.

Thanks Islamofacists for your religousness and leading 'Allah's' world to the brink of annihilation.

Red Mosque siege survivor speaks

Mrs. Williams — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 19:07:47 GMT

Why do we continue to entertain such stories??!! There is no cure for sick minds, in regards to Muslim radicals, that is all they possess. In search of sanity, those people will forever be lost...

Red Mosque siege survivor speaks

PWK, Portland, Oregon — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 19:19:45 GMT

The issue as I see it is the attempt to legislate morality. Morality is a personal issue in most cases and no one would want to be told to follow a religious scism that is not there's. In the US, how would Muslims feel if a 'Christian' Ethos was law. They would be forced to follow anothers religious traditions. This is the reason for a seperation of church and state. I do not want my morality legislated.

Red Mosque siege survivor speaks

M.Alam chicago,Illinios — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 19:20:06 GMT

I am a muslim I have not seen such a representation of Islam.These mullas has depicted religion according to their own stupid believes.Allthey are doing is brainwashing childrens for their develish acts.These burqa clad ladies should have met their fate long ago but thanks to Musharraf.They had created lawlessnes for long time,they were misused while those mullahs saving their own life behind burqas.I think every one believe in Karma.They should have been severely dealt by the government and wiped out from the face of the earth.They sould better know Islam means Peace.

Red Mosque siege survivor speaks

Dave, Hondo Tx. — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 19:23:24 GMT

I have lived and worked in the Muslim world (different countrys)for 5 years. I am well aware of what the Muslim world thinks of us as westeners. They want to do one of two things to us and that is convert us or kill us and not necessarily in that order,

Red Mosque siege survivor speaks

edmond — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 19:50:00 GMT

i have lived in that part of the world amoung these fenatic pepole. they bring this type of problems on them selfs no body should feel sory for them

Red Mosque siege survivor speaks

angeleyes Blue — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 20:11:17 GMT

Stay Strong...YOU STAY STRONG!

Red Mosque siege survivor speaks

OKD,Seattle, Wash. — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 21:33:23 GMT

Pakistan is a worldly known nursery of terrorism, a big sanctuary for terrorists; India is the only country that can deal with Pakistan with the moral support of United Stats and Israel. Boost Indian government in stead of General Musharraf.

Red Mosque siege survivor speaks

Slim Pickens — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 21:41:46 GMT

Christians and Moslems keep fighting because Fanatic Muslims keep killing (infidel)Christians intill the Christians kill them back. I find it funny Moslems are always talking about The Crusdaders who invaded the Holy Land. Conviently forgetting it was a shared Christian/Jewish Holy Land in till Moslems conguered it and forced everyone to convert to Islam (or die)Incidently the Crusades started when the Mullah of Juresalem ordered the Christian church burned down (When it was full of all the Christians they could find) So the Moslems could build the Mosque that sits there today. And I suppose yall missed the fact that the Paki security forces let it go on for 6 MONTHS before they did anything. Plus they warned them before they burned them out. Heck the ATF/FBI didn't give the Davidians in WACO half that much chance, or let the survivors go free for that matter.

Red Mosque siege survivor speaks

Salah Ahmed, Minneapolis, MN — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 22:52:17 GMT

While I agree to some of the posters on this blog, I, however, do not agree to the fact that some of these posters are so ignorant that religion is simply a tool to manipulate people to carry out such acts. I am a Muslim, Alhumdulilah -- but religion has been my spiritual connection to God (some might even dispute this, but please leave it for later) and a way of my life. Most of what Islam taught me was similar to what most other religions do. It by no means states that becoming a martyr is above all. I have a family to take care of, living through the timely hardships of raising children in a community, making sure they turn out to be responsible, educated and respected individuals is a Jihad in its own.
My condolences to everyone family or individual impacted by this unfortunate event, it wasn't something easy to witness and live with, especially coming from a Pakistani background, it made matters all the more difficult. But at the end of the day, not everyone's upbringing is the same, the elite enjoy a lavish, extravagant and educated (at times) life in Pakistan, but those in the middle socio economical state have fewer choices. Additionally, the problem in Pakistan is that many parents and elders of that social status prefer religious education over anything else -- or many a times, they have no other option to go with. Lack of worldly education is one of the major contributors to such an event. People recruited into a madrassah (Islamic school) are very much brain-washed if the teachers are focused on the same agenda of teaching religion and nothing but religion. Schools of this nature need to be more along the lines of what many private Christian schools in the U.S and elsewhere are. Provide that religious education, but it should be only a subset of other courses in the curriculum. It certainly saddens me as a Muslim that a civilization, which was once at the forefront of all major topics, be it religion, science, mathematics, geography, astrology and what not, is now running in time backwards. This is not an issue with just Pakistan, several other countries in the middle-east and south-asia face the problem. The only key to joining the growing globalization movement is by educating the young, while keeping the abreast on religious topics just as well.

Red Mosque siege survivor speaks

Liisa McNeil,Alpharetta,Georgia — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 23:35:10 GMT

This is such a sad story of struggling to survive for Habiba Aslam and her family. It is hard to believe that people in this world have to endure this kind of occurence in their lives. Her quote at the end is very powerful and does carry much meaning. I do hope she and her family can live peacefully. This region carries so much hardship for the citizens. I hope peace comes soon for them. Peace to all.

Red Mosque siege survivor speaks

Dan, NY, NY — Sat, 04 Aug 2007 00:34:51 GMT

Everybody has the right to live the live they way he or she like, or wutever he or she wants to believe in. When we say we wanna spread freedon in the world then doen't it mean the freedom of choice????? evrybody should choose wutever he or she like. why everybody is goin after the muslims in the world, only coz they wanna follow their religion completely. Why??????????????????

Red Mosque siege survivor speaks

Muslima in Cleveland — Sat, 04 Aug 2007 02:07:54 GMT

I'm sorry, but something does not quite ring true about this girl's story. I'm sure that she was in the mosque during the seige, but I think that her current show of defiance and dedication is just that - a show. Under the Taliban in Afghanistan, women that painted their nails had them PULLED OUT. I'm not saying that they would do the same in Pakistan, but certainly, if a young woman is so firmly indoctrinated in Taliban beliefs that she refers to her dead friends as "martyrs", she would never even consider wearing such a bold adornment. Someone is stretching the truth a little here...

Red Mosque siege survivor speaks

Sean, Torrington CT — Sat, 04 Aug 2007 15:42:51 GMT

So it's bad when these sect-members incite violence in Iraq to effect change in a government they don't want.

But it's good when the US military incites violence in Iraq to effect change in a government the President didn't like.

Gotta love the double-standards!

I'm just wondering when Bush, the 'Leader' who started this whole thing will put himself in harms way.

You pro-war joe-jobbers in fly-over states crack me up. Why don't you guys enlist and serve instead of berating the poor Iraqis caught in the crossfire? Then you could earn a little extra money, instead of sponging off of the more liberal states which can operate in the black without redistribution of wealth.

Ta!

Red Mosque siege survivor speaks

Winston, Toronto, Canada — Sun, 05 Aug 2007 03:56:29 GMT

Am getting sick of Islamic terrorism...

Red Mosque siege survivor speaks

Abdullah, San Jose, CA — Sun, 05 Aug 2007 09:00:05 GMT

Brainwashed - lol - you reap as you sow. It was CIA/US who taught teachers of this young lady the lesson of Jihad and way to heaven and used them against Russia in Afghanistan (80s). Now the new generation of Mullahs has turned against their own cousins, the Uncle Sam's generation of 20th century. Had US planted love, justice and education in that part of the world, situation would have been altogehter different.

Red Mosque siege survivor speaks

Universal Citizen — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 14:26:13 GMT

Religion IS Inherently Divisive.

...And because religion is a platform for the formation and promotion of Hatred...it must be Continuously Stigmatized for what it is--BIGOTRY.

Red Mosque siege survivor speaks

BobNA — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 19:24:12 GMT

Brainwashed...Pure and simple.

Red Mosque siege survivor speaks

BobUSA — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 19:38:57 GMT

How about tolerance?

Red Mosque siege survivor speaks

Claudia J — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 21:24:55 GMT

Just a thought, why is this girl risking her life by painting her nails bright orange, then hiding them under the birka. I would think in the Islamic fundamental world that is a big No no. It shows she has some independant thought and expression. She says one thing and does another. What is up with that?

Red Mosque siege survivor speaks

Garth Kinsel — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 23:10:32 GMT

I hope intelligence agents have thoroughly gleaned all useful info they could from her.

Red Mosque siege survivor speaks

Sana Attiq, Islamabad — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 06:23:29 GMT

@ muslima in cleveland: The orange nails the article refers to, are to the best of my knowledge, caused by the henna the women in the madrassa put on, when they were preparing for their deaths. its not a bold fashion statement, rather an islamic tradition.

i am a resident of islamabad, and my office is in a sector adjacent to the red mosque. the day the shootout started, i had gone to my bank, which is right next to the red mosque and i saw the rangers very casually putting barbed wires around the building. everything else was completely normal, people were going around minding their own business. the government or the rangers made no attempts to warn civilians of what was about to happen, the area was not sealed, no curfew was launched, absolutely nothing. my friend and i laughed about how the crazy female ninjas were probably upto something again, by the time we got back to office we heard about the shootout. even then we expected it to probably end that day, but the way the aggression stretched on and the way people died, it was well to be very frank very disturbing and very unexpected. and infact it was only after civilians got shot by stray bullets that the government put a curfew in that sector.

i am a liberal working woman and i personally look down upon the whole mullah mindset. but you have to realize that the way the events progressed, the actions and the reactions were not strategically planned at all. it was more of a spur of the moment thing and things got really out of hand as opposed to what the red mosque clerics had planned and what the government had planned. this is the kind of situation in which everyone is at fault. the kind of people who send their children to these madrassa are very very poor, they cant afford proper education, and as already pointed out the large family units, create many financial frustrations. these people are generally very frustrated, religion is just an excuse that they use to vent out their frustrations and aggression. the ironic thing about rebels at lal masjid is that they were waging war against people like us, the liberal not burka-clad well-to-do population. because they have found a way to justify their resentment for the upper class, by calling them all infidels. even though we are all muslims, but they refuse to accept that. its almost as if these burka-clad women want to kill us all, because they are forced to wear a burka while the likes of us dont, and they've been deprived of watching movies and listening to music. to me this explanation makes more sense, because these people are not sitting in kashmir or palestine, fighting for freedom. they havent faced any oppression at all, they are sitting in the most idyllic and peaceful city in pakistan and they want to wage war! against what? what has anyone done to them to push them to that point? absolutely nothing! except their low self-esteems and financial complexes and frustrations. thats the main culprit here, not islam.

having said that, the way the government dealt with the whole situation was absolutely wrong. it became quite clear from the way they refused to pay heed to the negotiation attempts and simply shot down molana rasheed, that they went in with the intent to kill him. i understand that some level of combat was necessary, but they most certainly could have avoided killing so many people. the death toll as most believe is above a 1000 people. many of which were women and children. there are hundreds of people missing from the lists displayed of people who died or survived, their families are still in dark about their children. where are those people? people are speculating that the government used bombs and deadly gases in the middle of the night to clear the area, which is against internation war laws. and the people who died in course are the ones that they are refusing to talk about. the government treated these people like they were not even citizens of the country. like they were some animals, that were ok to kill, in the course of finding militants. each and every one of those students was a citizen of pakistan with as much rights as any other. the government could have used gases to make people unconscious, arrested them and put them to trial in courts if they were guilty, but what justified killing them on spot? why were their lives so dispensible? why werent they given a chance to fight their case before the law? the government is as guilty of homicide as the militants are. had the militants takenover a prestigious school where the children from rich families went to study, the government would not have acted in this manner, they would have saved the lives of each and every student. but because the lives of the poor with no proper education, no welfare from the state were at risk, the government couldn't care less. such is the state of our sorry land. they were all at fault.

Red Mosque siege survivor speaks

Kortnie, Alaska — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 19:27:17 GMT

I'm glad everyone's so quick to judge her. Her upbringing I'll pretty much guarantee is 100% different than what any of us know. Who are we to say she is brainwashed? She chose to be there because she believes in an idea. An idea just as strongly as Christians believe in their faith or as atheists don't. At least she's willing to die for her cause. Which is more than a lot of people here are willing to do.

Red Mosque siege survivor speaks

Muslima in Cleveland — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 01:27:39 GMT

To Sana Attiq --- thank you for the clarification [a clarification that should perhaps have been made by the reporter]. It is so difficult to separate truth from fiction in the media these days, that I am afraid I may have become a bit cynical.

I am aware of many of the reasons for the fundamentalist upswing in Pakistan, but you stated the case much more eloquently than I could. Again, thank you - I hope that others in this forum take note of your comments, and realize that not all Muslim women, are repressed and mistreated, and not all Muslim men are terrorists, fundamentalists, or barbarians.

My husband's family lives in Karachi, which - although has it's problems - has thanks to Allah, not had to deal with the same level of violence and apprehension that you have in Islamabad. My prayers go out to you and your family, and I wish you continued safety and peace.

Red Mosque siege survivor speaks

Amirha, Michigan — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 18:21:28 GMT

Yes it is true that there are radical muslims, but not all muslims are behind them. Islam doesn't teach violence and what they call jihad is definitely not! they have made their own interpretation which is wrong and used that as an excuse for all the violence! it is also true that their government is corrupt, but thats an entirely different argument!!

Red Mosque siege survivor speaks

Patriot — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 22:02:17 GMT

It's clear that Pakistan is a nation at a crossroads. One part of it wants to move forward like its bigger neighbor, India, into the democratic modern world. But another part of it is afraid of that leap forward and wants to remain in the dubious safety of religious fundamentalism --- of the worst sort.

Red Mosque siege survivor speaks

Bess Karner, Barrington, RI — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 02:49:12 GMT

This is a terribly sad situation. No one, no matter what religion they follow, what gender they are, or where they live in the world, should have to live through such violence. Wasn't that part of the message of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, and so many other heroes of civil rights? People die all around the world as "martyrs" every day. The sadness of this name lies not in the fact that they call themselves "martyrs", but in the truth that people are *dying*. As a Christian woman, I feel sorry for this girl because she has suffered. Please take pity on her and other victims of violence, no matter what their race, color, sex, or creed.

Red Mosque siege survivor speaks

I.K — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 16:50:40 GMT

After reading the comments here, is it any wonder the americans are hated world wide? Apparently you'r supposed to be spreading freedom and democracy yet you're gov't supports a non-elected leader i.e musharraf? The Red mosgue is a well renowned institution that has helped THOUSANDS of Pakistan's orhpans; yet thanks to the U.S Media (that's you MSNBC)they've all been painted as radicals! Disgusting.