Shahada (Death for Allah) promotion

Ambassadors program

Entire Page

Suicide terror & Shahada

Shahada (Death for Allah) promotion

Suicide terror & Shahada

People who see life as the supreme value have difficulty understanding the mind of the suicide terrorist. Why are so many Palestinians willing and eager to kill themselves in terror attacks against Israel?

In order to create willingness among the population to confront Israel violently, the PA took advantage of the ancient tradition in Islam, Shahada or Death for Allah, which mandates Muslims to aspire to die in combat for Islam. The PA told their people that this ancient tradition also applies to them in confrontation with Israel today.

This indoctrination began shortly after the start of the Palestinian Terror War in 2000 and continues today. The PA promotes Shahada as a mandatory religious Islamic duty, both for adults and children, promising great rewards.

The Palestinian Authority today is an all-encompassing, death-worshipping society.

Shahada (Death for Allah) promotion
Since 2000 the promotion of Shahada has been carried out by the Palestinian Authority through all the structures under its control, including media, school system, religion, culture, music and sports. Religious leaders have taught adults that Islam demand they seek death, while music videos have taught children that Shahada death “is sweet.” Shahada promotion still continues today.

Topics on this page

1- Islamic duty to die for Allah

2- Motivating suicide terror and Shahada

3- Motivating children to seek death

4- "Enemies seek life, you seek death"

5- Honoring Shahids as role-models

1- Islamic duty to die for Allah

View All
Chronologically

In order to create willingness among the population to confront Israel violently, the PA presents Shahada - Death for Allah - as a religious Islamic obligation. This indoctrination began shortly after the start of the Palestinian Terror War in 2000.
Palestinians are told that Allah desires all of them – men, women and children – to seek death as martyrs, and that it is a privilege to be worthy of dying for Allah. One cleric even warned that if they didn’t seek Death for Allah their Muslim faith was deficient:
Ahmed Abdel Razek, PA Cleric:
“The believer was created to know his Lord - to follow Islam… to be a Shahid (Martyr) or intend to be one. If the believer doesn't hope for Shahada (Death for Allah), he will die a Jahiliya death (without faith). We must aim for Shahada and request it from Allah. If we truthfully ask for it, [Allah] will grant us its rewards, even if we die in bed.”

[PA TV, March 22, 2002]

Three of the four Turks killed on flotilla sought Martyr's death

Source: Al-Hayat Al-Jadida (Fatah), June 3, 2010

On May 30, a flotilla of ships set out to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza. Participants were filmed on board chanting Islamic battle cries that invoked the killing of Jews, and expressing desire to seek Martyrdom. The next day, the Israeli army boarded the flotilla and was met with a well-coordinated attack, leading to the death of 9 flotilla participants. The following is a news article from the PA official daily after the confrontation:

Headline: "Three of the four Turkish victims of the Israeli attack wished to die as Shahids (Martyrs)"
"Three of the four Turks killed in the Israeli attack on the "Freedom Flotilla" bound for the Gaza Strip wanted to die as Martyrs, said their relatives and friends. The wife of one of them, Ali Haydar Bengi, told the Vatan daily: "He used to help the poor and the oppressed. For years, he wanted to go to Palestine. And he constantly prayed to Allah to grant him Shahada (Martyrdom).
The names of the Turkish nationals killed in Monday's attack have not been officially released, but the Turkish media identified them yesterday as four men who were involved in Islamic movements or Islamic NGO's...
Ali worked at telephone repair shop in Diyarbakir, the largest city in south-eastern Turkey. Sabir Ceylan, a friend of Ali, told the Milliyet newspaper: 'Before embarking on this journey [to Gaza], he said he desired to become a Martyr. He had a strong desire to die as a Martyr.'
Another Turkish victim was Ali Ekber Yaratilmis, a 55-year old pensioner. He was a father of five who lived in Ankara. Ali volunteered for the Turkish Aid and Human Rights Organization [IHH], which transfers aid to Gaza. A friend, Mehmet Faruk Cevher, told the Sabah daily that [Ali] 'devoted his life to charity work, that's why he went to Gaza. He always wanted to become a Martyr.'
The third victim was Ibrahim Bilgen, a 61-year old pensioner a

Jihad and Martyrdom are only choices in religious war

Source: Al-Aqsa TV (Hamas), Sept. 4, 2009

Friday sermon, unidentified speaker:
"We have no choice; we have no choice in facing our enemy - who has stolen our land, profaned the holy things, and defiled the holy places – save for the option of Jihad and Martyrdom-seeking for the sake of Allah. There is no-one among us… who will forsake the principles; who would kiss, embrace and shake the hands of the Jewish oppressors, and abandon a single grain of sand of the earlier of the two qiblas (directions of prayer, a reference to Jerusalem) and the land of Jihad and Ribat (religious war)."

PA cleric: Muslims must pray to be granted Shahada

Source: Palestinian TV (Fatah), Apr. 12, 2002

Dr. Muhammad Ibrahim Madi:
"Whoever has not been granted Shahada (Death for Allah) at this time, must rise at night and ask: 'My Lord, why have You denied me Shahada?'" Click here to view

View All

2- Motivating suicide terror and Shahada

View All
Chronologically

Palestinian TV glorifies love of death and Martyrdom

Source: Palestinian TV (Fatah), July 11, 2010

"Now that we are at the gateway to eternity, we offer our souls and our blood to redeem the sacred homeland, for beloved Palestine. We turn in supplication to all Palestinians – that they should not forget our dripping blood and our souls which will flutter in the heavens over this beloved land. We welcome death with complete joy and happiness. We shall place the heroes’ noose around our necks most willingly, to redeem you, Palestine. They were three men who competed over death. Their feet were raised high above the hangman’s head. They became a symbol of heroism and honor for the land. [This] is the day of the three. The three, oh land, are waiting who will be the first to give his soul for you.” Click here to view

Mother of Martyr: "Every mother should sacrifice her child for Palestine"

Source: Palestinian TV (Fatah), Feb. 11, 2010

PA TV news report:
Mother upon news of son's death in an IDF airstrike: "We had always hoped for his [my son's] Martyrdom (Shahada), knowing he wanted to die as a Martyr (Shahid). Every time he went out, we would say to him, 'May Allah be with you.' We knew that he wanted to die as a Martyr. Praise to Allah, he sought Martyrdom, and he achieved it. My message to every mother is to sacrifice her child for Palestine.
Another woman: "By Allah, we welcome every Martyr as if he were a groom among us." Click here to view

Fatah prides itself on deadly terror attacks

Source: Al-Hayat Al-Jadida (Fatah), Jan. 6, 2010

Headline: "On the 45th anniversary of its founding: Fatah is still the leader of the national struggle and the foundation stone of the Palestinian State"
"Fatah has the greatest number of prisoners in the jails of the Israeli occupation... In addition, it is the largest faction that has sacrificed Shahids (Martyrs) from among its commanders and members [in the past] and until a few days ago, when special forces of the Israeli occupation army executed three of its members in Nablus [referring to the three terrorists who were killed by Israel two days after they murdered Rabbi Meir Chai in Dec. 2009]."

View All

3- Motivating children to seek death

View All
Chronologically

Hamas TV applauds child's wish for Shahada

Source: Al-Aqsa TV (Hamas), Jan. 22, 2010

Phone interview broadcast on Hamas TV kids' program, Tomorrow's Pioneers:
Host to girl on phone: "How was it for you during the [Gaza] war [2009]? Were you afraid that you would die, that you would leave this world?"
Girl: "No. I wasn't afraid. I wished for Shahada (Martyrdom) -- Shahada for Allah."
Host: "How wonderful. Even this little girl - how old are you?"
Girl: "Ten."
Host: "[She] is not more than ten years old, and wants to die as a Shahida (Martyr) for Allah. We all wish for this [Shahada]."
Click here to view

Kids shown video of their mother's suicide bombing death on Hamas TV

Source: Al-Aqsa TV (Hamas), July 3, 2009

On a kids' TV show, the children of Reem Riyashi, a suicide bomber, watch the reenacment of her suicide:
TV Host: "[Our guests are] the children of the Shahida [Martyr] Reem Riyashi."
The video is shown:] "Mommy, what are you carrying in your arms instead of me? A toy or a present for me?
[Visual: Mother prepares bomb, hiding bomb]
Are you going out, Mommy? Come back quickly, Mommy.
[Girl sees TV news about her mother's bombing]
Instead of me you carried a bomb in your hands. Now, I know what was more precious than us.
My love [for Muhammad] will not be [only] words. [Picks up explosives in mother's drawer]
I am following Mommy in her steps! My mother! My mother!" [Girl looks at bomb in her hand]
TV Host: "These are the children of the Shahida [Martyr], the heroic Jihad fighter who sacrificed all that she had for her homeland. She cared less about her own flesh and blood, and for their sake, she sacrificed [herself] for Allah. We say to the occupier, that we will continue in the footsteps of the Shahida [Martyr], the Jihad fighter Reem Riyashi, until we liberate our homeland from your hands, usurper." Click here to view

Daughter of suicide terrorist promises to follow mother

Source: Al-Aqsa TV (Hamas), May 22, 2009

Hamas TV music video: 5 year-old daughter of suicide terrorist Reem Riyashi, sings to her mother, promising to follow as suicide terrorist.
"Mommy, what are you carrying in your arms instead of me? A toy or a present for me?
[Visual: Mother prepares bomb, hiding bomb]
Are you going out, Mommy? Come back quickly, Mommy.
[Girl sees TV news about her mother's bombing]
Instead of me you carried a bomb in your hands. Now, I know what was more precious than us.
My love [for Muhammad] will not be [only] words. [Picks up explosives in mother's drawer]
I am following Mommy in her steps! My mother! My mother!" [Girl looks at bomb in her hand] Click here to view

(Broadcast repeatedly, 2007 - 2009)

View All

4- "Enemies seek life, you seek death"

View All
Chronologically

Schoolbook: "Your enemies seek life while you seek death"

Source: Reading and Texts Part II, Grade 8, Jan. 1, 2010

PA schoolbook:
“O heroes, Allah has promised you victory... Don't talk yourselves into flight… Your enemies seek life while you seek death. They seek spoils to fill their empty stomachs while you seek a Paradise as wide as are the heavens and the earth... Death is not bitter in the mouth of the believers. These drops of blood that gush from your bodies will be transformed tomorrow into blazing red meteors that will fall down upon the heads of your enemies."
[Reading and Texts Part II, Grade 8, p. 16]

Note: This schoolbook has been in use since 2006.

Schoolbook: Rush to a Martyr's death

Source: Our Beautiful Language for 6th grade, Jan. 1, 2010

PA schoolbook:
The Shahid (The Martyr)

“I shall carry my soul in my palm and toss it into the abyss of destruction...
And then, either life, gladdening friends, or death, enraging the enemies.
By your life! I see my death, but I hasten my steps towards it...
By your life! This is the death of men.
And who asks for a noble death - here it is…”

Our Beautiful Language for 6th grade, section 1, p. 47;
Our Beautiful Language for 7th grade, section 1, p. 97.
Note: This schoolbook has been in use since 2006.

Hamas "loves death like our enemies love life"

Source: Hamas website, Dec. 12, 2005

Raed Sa’ad, Hamas Military Commander:
"We succeeded, with Allah's grace, to raise an ideological generation that loves death like our enemies love life. We will not abandon the way of Jihad and Shahada [Martyrdom] as long as one inch of our holy land is in the hands of the Jews." Click here to view

View All

5- Honoring Shahids as role-models

View All
Chronologically

Fatah secretary praises the naming of a summer camp after terrorist Dalal Mughrabi

Source: Al-Hayat Al-Jadida (Fatah), Aug. 5, 2010

Yousuf Al-Aref, the secretary of Fatah in Bethlehem:
"Naming such summer camps after the Shahida (Martyr) Dalal Mughrabi strengthens the sense of belonging and citizenship among Palestinian girls."

Summer camp named after terrorist Dalal Mughrabi

Source: Al-Hayat Al-Jadida (Fatah), Aug. 5, 2010

Headline: "Light of the Generations' Association concludes the second [summer] camp named after Shahida (Martyr) Dalal Mughrabi...
"Mahera Al-Jamal [representative of the National Committee of Summer Camps] spoke about the active role of the National Committee in supporting and sponsoring such camps, and she delivered greetings from the General Coordinator, Mousa Abu Zaid.... Secretary of Fatah in Bethlehem, Yousuf Al-Aref said that naming such summer camps after the Shahida Dalal Mughrabi strengthens the sense of belonging and citizenship among Palestinian girls. ... The 'Freedom Flotilla' group at the camp put on a play named 'Dalal the Legend,' which was well-liked by the audience and received applause, while the 'Tel Al-Rabi'a [Tel Aviv] and Jerusalem' group presented an impassioned folkdance. The song 'Returning to my country' moved those present; they expressed their admiration with a standing ovation. A participant in the camp, Batul Khader, concluded the camp by inviting the audience to join in the song, 'We are not terrorists.'"

Song at Fatah event glorifies terrorist Dalal Mughrabi

Source: Palestinian TV (Fatah), Aug. 4, 2010

PA TV host: "A public ceremony is being held under the auspices of President Mahmoud Abbas..."
Words of song:
     "No one outshines the Fatah member
     He mounts his machine gun on the tripod
     His eyes are to Al-Aqsa [Mosque] - the Fatah member...
     They got off the boats near the shore
     [to hijack an Israeli bus in 1978]
     [Squad leader] Dalal [Mughrabi] fights and battles the soldiers
     [37 Israeli civilians were killed]
     Be safe, you defiant, oh Fatah member!
     ...
     They went [ashore] as birds of prey,
     the heroic Al-Saika (PLO unit)
     The men of Yasser [Arafat], Al-'Asifa (PLO unit)
     The enemy's army fled trembling.
     Let's hail Fatah!" Click here to view

Note: A number of Fatah dignitaries attended the event.