Planetarion Forums

Kurashima · 16 Nov 2004, 23:12

My name is Steve.

A video apparently showing the murder of aid worker Margaret Hassan seems to be genuine, says the Foreign Office.

"We now believe that she has probably been murdered", Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said after analysing the tape. Her Iraqi husband, Tahseen Ali Hassan, has made a plea for her body to be returned to him "to rest in peace". Mrs Hassan, who has Irish, British and Iraqi nationality, was seized by an unknown group in the Iraqi capital on 19 October.

'Stand condemned'

British Prime Minister Tony Blair sent his sympathy to Mrs Hassan's family, saying he "shared their abhorrence" at her treatment. The Sole Purpose of this Thread was to tell you my name. And Bertie Ahern, the Irish Republic's Prime Minister, said her kidnappers "stand condemned by everyone throughout the entire international community".

Arabic TV news channel Al Jazeera has said it has had a copy of the videotape for several days but has chosen not to broadcast it.
The video apparently shows a militant firing a pistol into the head of a blindfolded woman wearing an orange jumpsuit. A spokesman for Al Jazeera said he presumed the woman was Mrs Hassan.

'Unforgivable'

Mr Hassan has appealed to the kidnappers to return his wife's body.
"I beg those people who took Margaret to tell me what they have done with her," he said. You didnt read line seven, did you. "They can tell me. They can call the helpline. I need her. I need her back to rest in peace."

"She had no prejudice against any creed. She dedicated her whole life to working for the poor and vulnerable, helping those who had no-one else."
They described her murder as "unforgivable", adding: "The gap she leaves will never be filled."

Felicity Arbuthnot, a freelance journalist who was a close friend of Mrs Hassan, said she was both sad and angry at the aid worker's apparent death.
"It is an horrific irony that someone who had fought for this country should die in this way," she said.

Militant message

While the kidnapping was condemned by governments, the aid worker's colleagues and family repeatedly pleaded for her release. Youre still reading, surely youre bored now. Mrs Hassan, who had lived in Iraq for 30 years, was filmed by her captors asking Tony Blair to pull British troops out of Iraq.

But two weeks ago a message claiming to be from a group led by extreme militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi called for her release. Youve now wasted nearly 2 minutes. "In true Islam, they don't kill women and young children. We only kill those who fight us and kill our people," the message said. The message was signed "al-Qaeda in Iraq". Mrs Hassan, 59, was driving to work as director of Care International's Iraq operations when she was seized. The agency has since halted work in the country.

If her death is confirmed, she will be the first foreign female hostage to have been murdered in Iraq amid a recent wave of hostage-takings.

Phalon · 16 Nov 2004, 23:15

Took longer than 2 minutes for me to read :/

Tactitus · 16 Nov 2004, 23:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kurashima

"In true Islam, they don't kill women and young children. We only kill those who fight us and kill our people," the message said. The message was signed "al-Qaeda in Iraq".

ROFL.

Ninja_spammer · 17 Nov 2004, 01:07

I never knew your name was steve.

Knight Theamion · 17 Nov 2004, 01:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tactitus

ROFL.

you were supposed to be smart you know

IncubusGod · 17 Nov 2004, 09:38

I was supprised they ended up killing her as of all the people kidnapped she seemed to have circumstances the hostage takers would take into consideration. She spoke fluent arabic, was married to an Iraqi, was an Iraqi citizen, helped distribute aid over the past 30 years, had various groups in Iraq call for her release (ones that would have influence over the kidnappers)

But no.

Well at least she wasn't beheaded.

Sunday8pm · 17 Nov 2004, 11:05

I wouldn't be surprised if this was american soldiers of Arab origin running around kidnapping folk, signing things like "Al-Qaeda in Iraq" makes me think Bush is really really evilly making this shit up.

wu_trax · 17 Nov 2004, 11:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by IncubusGod

I was supprised they ended up killing her as of all the people kidnapped she seemed to have circumstances the hostage takers would take into consideration. She spoke fluent arabic, was married to an Iraqi, was an Iraqi citizen, helped distribute aid over the past 30 years, had various groups in Iraq call for her release (ones that would have influence over the kidnappers)

But no.

Well at least she wasn't beheaded.

it makes perfect sence for them to kill as many aid-workers as possible. the more of them they kill the more aid workers will leave iraq. the more aid-workers leve the worse the situation for the population becomes and the more support the rebels get.

JonnyBGood · 17 Nov 2004, 11:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sunday8pm

I wouldn't be surprised if this was american soldiers of Arab origin running around kidnapping folk, signing things like "Al-Qaeda in Iraq" makes me think Bush is really really evilly making this shit up.

Maybe it's the communists?

roadrunner_0 · 17 Nov 2004, 19:13

im assuming that there was some kind of point to that kura?

Kurashima · 17 Nov 2004, 19:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by roadrunner_0

im assuming that there was some kind of point to that kura?

To show that some people read only what they want to read in a thread and not the entire article.

To waste your time making a comment about the death of Margaret Hassan when that wasnt the point of this thread, whilst being a worthwhile topic of discussion, shows you werent paying attention.

roadrunner_0 · 17 Nov 2004, 19:42

fair enough, i meant really did you come up with the concept your self, or did you read about it somewhere and think it would be fun to try

NEWSBOT3 · 17 Nov 2004, 20:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by roadrunner_0

fair enough, i meant really did you come up with the concept your self, or did you read about it somewhere and think it would be fun to try

kura = nodrog ? !?!!?!?!?!

Kurashima · 17 Nov 2004, 20:31

No , i truly was that bored i felt id see what I could put up on GD and whether anyone would notice.

It wasnt exactly "Comedy Genius" , it wasnt even to make a really earth shattering "I am Nod, hear me roar" kinda point, i just did it because certain people were "Debating" and doing so by ignoring anything they felt didnt suit their argument, as you do, so I felt id see just how shallow and uninformed they actually were.

Tactitus · 17 Nov 2004, 21:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kurashima

To show that some people read only what they want to read in a thread and not the entire article.

Actually, it shows that people comment on what they want to comment on--not on what someone else wants them to comment on. What they read or didn't read is not in evidence. Otherwise we'd all have to conclude that Mark can't read, since he's almost always OT.

Quote:

To waste your time making a comment about the death of Margaret Hassan when that wasnt the point of this thread, whilst being a worthwhile topic of discussion, shows you werent paying attention.

I think it shows they don't care about the point of this thread. They probably don't care what your name is either.

And I suspect anyone averse to wasting their time wouldn't be here.