Touch the dead "Martyr" and brag to your friends
Touch the dead "Martyr" and brag to your friends -
official PA daily describes kids' behavior toward Martyrs
- Martyrs are "glory"
- Martyrs are "grooms"
- "Death as a Martyr is the path to excellence and greatness"
- Martyrdom is "the great victory."
"A boy comes out quickly and tries to touch the head of the Martyr.
He wants to brag to his friends that he touched a Martyr"
By Itamar Marcus and Nan Jacques Zilberdik
"Touching a Martyr" is worth street credit if you're a kid in the Palestinian Authority. Kids want to touch the dead body so they can "brag to their friends" about it, according to the official PA daily.Referring to the "images that remain" when "parting from the Martyrs," the paper described:
"A boy is hanging out the window of a room and watching the parting from the Martyr... He comes out quickly and tries to touch the head of the Martyr. He wants to reach the glory in order to brag to his friends that he touched a Martyr..."
[Official PA daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Oct. 2, 2018]
Palestinian Media Watch has reported in the past on this cult-like behavior towards "Martyrs", which the Palestinian Authority promotes and glorifies.Not only does the "Martyr's" "glory" rub off on you if you touch him, but the Martyr is also believed to be "a groom" on his way to his wedding to the 72 Virgins in Paradise:
"When the body of the Martyr reached his home, his closest friend Ata looked for the Martyr's mother and shouted: 'We have brought you the groom; we have brought you the groom.'"
[Official PA daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Oct. 2, 2018]
According to Islamic belief, a "Martyr" marries 72 Dark-Eyed Virgins in Paradise. Therefore a "Martyr's" funeral is considered a "wedding." Palestinian religious leaders have repeatedly explained that becoming a "Martyr" represents the highest achievement that can be attained by a Muslim. This cult-like Martyr worship by the PA has been going on for years. Palestinian children were taught to glorify Martyrs (Shahids) during the PA's 5-year terror campaign (the second Intifada, 2000-2005). The PA reported at the time that the children would play "the Shahid Game" and argue over who gets to play the best part and die as a "Martyr":
"A seven year old girl says to her friends: 'Let's play the Shahid (Martyr) Game!' The children... argue who will play the Shahid. Fa'iz, 6 years old, says: 'You were the Shahid yesterday, today it's my turn! I'm younger than you. I'll be the one to die!'"
[Official PA daily, Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Dec. 26, 2001]
 |
Palestinian children: "In spirit and blood, we'll redeem you, oh Martyr! Allah Akbar!"
PA TV narrator: "That's the Shahid (Martyr) Game."
[Official PA TV, July 1, 2002]
The Palestinian Authority promotes Martyrdom in many different ways and even through music videos. Earlier this year when the PA was trying to incite violence against the US' moving its embassy to Jerusalem, a music video was broadcast repeatedly on PA TV where the singer begs of God to achieve Martyrdom for Al-Aqsa. According to the song the "Martyrs" - males and females - will become "a million grooms and brides at the celebration," in the "Paradise of immortals." In the clear promotion of suicide bombing the music video showed pictures of two female suicide bombers, who "have written their marriage contracts in blood on the veil":  |  |
 |  |
Lyrics: "Al-Aqsa has called, and its call is precious
For its sake, life is insignificant, even if it's precious...
God, grant us Martyrdom there
God, promise us, we beg of you...
A million grooms and brides at the celebration
Have written the marriage contract in blood on the veil"
Visual: Suicide bomber Wafa Idris - She blew herself up in Jerusalem, killing 1 and wounding over 100
A million grooms and brides at the celebration
Have written the marriage contract in blood on the veil"
Visual: Suicide bomber Ayyat Al-Akhras - She blew herself up in Jerusalem, killing 2 and wounding 28
Filled with desire, they are going to the Paradise of immortals
To a wedding procession with angels that fill Palestine with light."
[Official PA TV, Dec. 11, 17 and 19, 2017, and Jan. 8, 10 and 20, 2018;
A similar version previously aired on Fatah-run Awdah TV, Jan. 23-24, 2017
and 4 times July 22, 2017.]
"The families of the Martyrs and their relatives find themselves proud of the Martyrdom that their children achieved with the Creator... Sixteen [12-grade students] succeeded... for death as a Martyr is the path to excellence and greatness, and the path of those who know how to reach the great victory."
[WAFA (official PA news agency), July 11, 2016;
official PA daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, July 12, 2016]
The following is a longer excerpt of the recent article in the official PA daily describing the "glory" of the "grooms":Headline: "The mother of Martyr Muhammad Zaghloul scatters roses soaked in her tears over his grave"
"Only the mother remained to shed tears over the grave of her Martyr (Shahid) son Muhammad Zaghloul Al-Rimawi (i.e., suspected terrorist) after the participants in the funeral procession had scattered. She remained alone to cry over him and scattered roses over his grave...
When parting from the Martyrs, there are always symbolic images that remain in the mind and heart, and it does not matter how much time has passed. Here, at the parting from the Martyr, a father stands facing his son and gives him a military salute. This is an image that has repeated itself many times.
In a different image, a boy is hanging out the window of a room and watching the parting from the Martyr... He comes out quickly and tries to touch the head of the Martyr. He wants to reach the glory in order to brag to his friends that he touched a Martyr, but he did not succeed.
When the body of the Martyr reached his home, his closest friend Ata looked for the Martyr's mother and shouted: 'We have brought you the groom; we have brought you the groom.'"
[Official PA daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Oct. 2, 2018]