Middle-east Arab News Opinion | Asharq Al-awsat

Abu Musab | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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In the island of Jamaica, a religious movement appeared in the 1960s; its members grew their hair into dreadlocks and smoked marijuana. They believed in a god called Jah who was incarnated in the Ethiopian emperor Haile Selassie, the first black king in the modern era and a good omen for black people worldwide. Individuals were brainwashed into believing this during reggae parties, as they smoked marijuana. This was an industry of illusion and superstition! Days passed and the Ethiopian emperor was ousted from power in a violent and bloody coup. Lieutenant Colonel Mengistu Haile Mariam, who succeeded him, buried the emperor remains underneath his personal office.

I recalled all this as I watched the tragic end of Abu Musab al Zarqawi, the man whose hands were sullied with the blood of innocent victims as he appeared to aimlessly fight off the entire world. Al Zarqawi became a terrorist with no connection whatsoever to religion. Surprisingly, despite his brutal record and horrific deeds, some people justify his actions and even supported him! What a sad day it is when a criminal kills and destroys indiscriminately without any regard for human life, yet some people are still ready to defend his actions! Something surely must be wrong! Evertyime al Zarqawi or his followers used to appear, the voices of reason would be heard asserting “No, this is not Islam and does not represent Islam”. But the likes al Zarqawi increased in numbers, thereby indicating the presence of a grave problem which has yet to be clearly addressed.

The miserable life and death of Abu Musab al Zarqawi demonstrates you reap what you sow.

Much will be said about Zarqawi’s life and terror, as well as the consequences of his actions. But, he was the result of an ideology and a culture which need to be examined. He is no Che Guevara, no Robin Hood, no Don Quixote or even Grandizer! Will those who support al Zarqawi awake from their drug induced haze? Will they then recognize that al Zarqawi and his associates’ behaviour can’t be accepted because, simply, it is against human nature?