ISLAMIC VIGILANTES BLAMED FOR THE DEATH OF 40 WOMEN IN BASRA

Christian Today — Australia
Dec 13 2007

Reports of intimidation to keep the populous of Basra, a southern city
in Iraq, ‘Islamic’ has increased as conservative Islamic religious
vigilantes were blamed for the death of at least 40 women this year.

Reports of intimidation to keep the populous of Basra, a southern city
in Iraq, ‘Islamic’ has increased as conservative Islamic religious
vigilantes were blamed for the death of at least 40 women this year.

The Basra’s police chief, Major General Jalil Khalaf, told the AP
news agency women in the city were horrifically murdered and dumped in
the garbage with a note attributing their action to the victim being
‘un-Islamic.’

"The women of Basra are being horrifically murdered and then dumped
in the garbage with notes saying they were killed for un-Islamic
behavior," Mr. Khalaf said.

Women are not alone in being pressured to become more ‘Islamic’.

Ahmed, a 19-year-old student, told the Sunday Times British publication
that he was asked by militants to grow a beard and shorten his hair
in order to adhere to Islamic principal.

He went further, saying university religious polices are now active
within the campus to monitor the students’ behaviour and even check
their mobile phones to see whether there are any ‘immoral’ pictures
or videos.

The Archbishop of the Armenian Church of Iraq, Avak V. Asadourian,
gave a sombre assessment of the Christian plight in Iraq saying though
they had faith and courage, but, nonetheless they were leaving in
droves due to the manifestation of evil brought on by war.

"We do have the courage of faith, the outpouring of love, but because
of the war, you see death and destruction, the manifestation of evil.

Our people are lacking hope, and so they are leaving," said the
Archbishop in an interview with Ecumenical News International.

The sectarian war in the country shows no sign of abating as a car
bomb exploded in an Iraq killing 41 people on Wednesday.