Hostages

The "brave" jihadis holed up in the Red Mosque in Islamabad, Pakistan appear to be holding children as hostages against their will. They have actually fired on family members who have approached the mosque trying to get their children out. For now the Pakistani forces surrounding the complex are following a strategy of waiting the thugs out.

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, July 6 — Security forces ringing a besieged mosque pummeled Islamic radicals with gunfire on Friday, as concern grew that many of those still inside — including children — were being held against their will.

Although more than 1,200 people have fled the mosque since the siege began Tuesday, authorities estimated that several hundred remain within. Only a few dozen are suspected to be hard-core radicals; others appear to want to leave but have been prevented from doing so.

The government has refrained from launching a full-scale invasion of the mosque compound, even though the militants are believed to be severely outgunned. In the meantime, thousands of heavily armed rangers and commandos have formed a tight cordon around the compound.

Clerics at the pro-Taliban Red Mosque, also called the Lal Masjid, want to turn Pakistan into a theocracy. During the past few months, students at an affiliated madrassa, or religious school, have abducted alleged prostitutes and forced them to confess and threatened video store owners with attacks. On Tuesday, a clash between the radicals and government forces left at least 19 people dead…..

….About 1 p.m., a contingent of family members of those still inside approached the mosque hoping to retrieve their loved ones. Instead, they were met with gunfire. At least one person was slightly wounded in the attack.

"They said, 'We will not hand over your children,' and they fired on us," said Yasar Shah, who came to Islamabad from a village in western Pakistan. "My sister is in there. I have to get her back."

There is one sign that I think is very hopeful in all of this. Although the Western media hasn't gotten the message yet, media in Pakistan have: they are openly making fun of the leader of the jihadis who tried to flee the mosque dressed in a burqa. They are calling him "Auntie Aziz." If the trend continues, the islamists will lose their mystique with the populace. That's a good thing. If enough of the media stopped treating these vicious thugs to gobs of free - and mostly fawning - publicity, there is a chance they would have to change their ways. It's that mutually beneficial spiral of death that encourages the jihadis to continue with the tactics they are using.

Other Links to this Post

1. Blue Crab Boulevard » Death Cult — Saturday, 7 July , 2007 @ 7:48 am

2. Blue Crab Boulevard » Mookie Gets Brave — Sunday, 8 July , 2007 @ 6:53 pm