PA TV host glorifies terrorist murderers Abu Jihad and Ahmad Yassin, Guest glorifies Martyrdom
Official PA TV program Talk of the Land, on criticism of the great number of Palestinian anniversaries and festivals, interview with Dr. Mazen Sabah of Al-Azhar University in Gaza
Official PA TV host: “Anniversaries are not marked by festivals, eulogies, and annual celebrations.
The anniversary of the death of the Martyr (Shahid) is marked by following his national path, and likewise for the prisoner. Learn from [the prisoner] resolve and freedom, learn from the homeland, learn resolve, building, and existence from the cities and villages where massacres were committed. Plant a [Palestinian] flag in every home. Yasser Arafat, Abu Jihad (i.e., terrorist, responsible for murder of 125), Ahmed Yassin (i.e., founder of Hamas terrorist organization), and others of the leaders send you greetings, and say to you: ‘We do not want to be honored. We want national unity, we want an actual homeland.’”
Dr. Mazen Sabah of Al-Azhar University in Gaza: “Allah honored the Martyrs, and we ask Almighty Allah that everyone who died for Allah be willingly received by Allah, and if he is willingly received by Allah, that is the greatest honor and there is none greater. ‘And never think of those who have been killed in the cause of Allah as dead. Rather, they are alive with their Lord, receiving provision’ (Quran, Sura 3:169, Sahih International translation). They are people living [in spirit] who we do not sense, and they are alive and dignified in the eyes of Allah. We raise their memory when we praise their families and sons.”