Dance of Death on Eid

As millions of Muslims were celebrating Eid on Friday, 17^th July, ISIS indulged in yet another act of depravity killing about 120 civilians in Iraq. The attack occurred in a market area of the predominantly Shia town of Khan Bani Saad. As children were playing outside, a person with an ice truck lured people with cheaper relief from the heat and in the process detonated explosives killing about 120 people, including 15 children. Throngs of shoppers crowded the open-air market when, according to two local police officials, a man in a truck pulled up and announced he was not only selling ice, but offering a discount because of the holiday. Although the sun had gone down, the temperature was still around 35 degrees Celsius so the prospect of cheap ice drew hundreds to the truck, according to police.

In a statement, the ISIS spokesperson claimed that the bomber had three ton of explosives. This is not the first time that ISIS has chosen a particular day, like Eid or Friday to inflict mass casualties. Such occasions provide the murderous group with easy targets in larger numbers. In the last one month, the group has attacked Shia mosques in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait killing dozens of worshippers. All these attacks took place during Friday congregation. The explosion in Iraq was so powerful that a police officer Ahmad al Tamimi said that some people were using vegetables boxes to collect body parts of kids’ bodies.

It is well known now that ISIS is setting new lows in depravity and barbarism every passing day. They have least respect for religious and human sensibilities. That even during the Second World War, the opposing sides would halt hostilities during Christmas just goes on to show how brutal and blood thirsty this group is. It will not be wrong to assume that major global powers like US and UK and even regional powers like Saudi Arabia and Turkey havent done enough to thwart their march. In fact countries like Saudi and Turkey seem to enjoy this situation. Turkey seems to be using their influence to cut the Kurds to size. Saudi Arabia on the other hand will draw pleasure from the fact that the group has captured vast areas in Iraq and Syria and thereby drawn Iran into the conflict. But both powers must soon realize that the monster can one day devour them as well. The Muslim world in general and the Arab world in particular havent moved beyond a token criticism of the group. It is unfortunate that many Muslims take the easy out of saying they are not Muslims, rather than taking on the deadly and virulent ideology the group uses. It is time for the world in general and the Muslim world in particular to acknowledge the threat that this group poses and take it on without mincing words, without feeling apologetic about it.

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