April 16, 2012
As the second anniversary of the assassination attempt on former British ambassador to Yemen Tim Torlot approaches, the family of suicide bomber Othman Ali Noman al-Selwi continues to suffer social and financial hardships.
His father Ali Noman al-Selwi, a construction contractor, sold two buildings he owned and the family moved multiple times to escape harassment from the community.
With much grief and sadness al-Selwi told Al-Shorfa, "Ever since my son carried out the suicide bombing, I have not known any measure of happiness."
"I sold the two buildings I owned, and if it were not for a few small construction jobs, I would have no work at all," he said.
In press statements following the April 26, 2010 bombing, al-Selwi described the end his son chose for his life as a "dishonourable fate" and exhorted Yemeni youth "not to be drawn into committing terrorist acts".
Motaz Adnan, 30, told Al-Shorfa how the incident forced his former neighbour's family to move far from their neighbourhood.
"If the family had stayed in the neighbourhood, it would have been subjected to harassment, especially since Yemeni society rejects terrorist acts. People would have tried to place the blame on Othman's parents for allegedly neglecting their son or some other culpable act," Adnan said.
Seven months ago, al-Selwi received the approval of Yemeni security authorities and British authorities to recover the remains of his son, which had been sequestered by the British until their investigation into the material used in the bombing was completed.
"I sold all my property after the incident due to the financial and social hardships we lived through and to pay expenses accrued in pursuing my son's case and the effort to recover his body in order to bury him," al-Selwi said.
Al-Selwi's financial situation has since worsened and does not allow him to hold a funeral or a visitation for his son, he said.
Suicide bombers 'neither martyrs nor mujahideen'
In Yemen, suicide bombers are viewed as people who kill themselves, not mujahideen. And while their remains are handled in accordance with tradition complete with prayer and burial ceremonies, the consensus among religious scholars is that suicide bombers are not to be considered martyrs.
"Those who carry out suicide bombings are neither martyrs nor mujahideen. They took the wrong path to heaven by carrying out those terrorist operations," Sheikh Jabri Ibrahim, director-general of preaching and guidance at the Ministry of Endowments and Guidance, told Al-Shorfa.
"However, suicide bombers are Muslims and sons of Muslims, thus, prayers are offered on their behalf and they are buried like other Muslims," he said.
"The Prophet said that he who fights under the banner of ignorance and is killed, his death is a jahiliyyah [ignorant] death. Suicide bombers fight under the banner of ignorance," Ibrahim said.
"No group or side but God has the right to bestow the status of martyrdom on [a suicide bomber] or anybody else, since such constitutes an infringement on God's [sovereign authority]," he added.
Islam is a religion of love and peace and even invitation to Islam may not involve coercion, he said.
Some groups seek to use Islamic law to justify wars "to suit their aims", Ibrahim said.
However, he said, "Islam stipulates that women, children, the elderly, even trees and animals are to be spared in war. Islam bans killing children participating in battle, contrary to the practice of some groups that deliberately kill civilians with suicide bombings that target Muslims on public roads, next to schools and in public squares."
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Reader's Comments
When the family notice the delinquency of one of its members toward the believe of atonement, and this is clear in avoiding society and atone people, especially some scientists or some of the rulers, noticing the tendency to be absent from home for long periods and retreat to a limited group of friends who have the same orientations as well as meetings, and conversations with a secret nature, the rest of the family in this case, should discuss him spontaneously, without arrogance, but on the basis that both of them wishing the good and reform, thus he can get him to refute the suspicion and clarify the truth. One day he will be able to repair and upright and his condition. But those who would like to just speak and cannot endure to be interrupted and does not want to hear, then it is better not to participate, the call to goodness and being patience on the harm was the way of the Messengers. The meetings should continue for a while to guarantee that the young man will not return to the old believes, and it is better to encourage using clubs, schools and places of entertainment. The family and society must be tolerant and more caring for the children while upright their own affairs.
I believe that anyone who adopts this terrorist approach and collaborates with terrorists has neither conscience nor good ethics. This is because such person thinks about himself only, and has no consideration for anything other than his ill intentions and the bigotry that he’s carrying in his heart. Such person has no consideration for his family, mother or relatives, and overlooks the dangers to which he might get exposed should he follow this wrong path. He also disregards the bad reputation that could affect his family as a result of his terrorist act. Neighbors who lose a family member due to terrorism will degrade his family, because their son could be one of those criminals who might have been involved in the killing of their son or family member. This will make the family of the terrorist endure mockery and many will ridicule them. Therefore, every young man should fear God and should take into consideration his family's interest and it reputation. He should not lose sight of what they’ve done for him to raise him, and should remember that they want him to give back to them and support them, instead of stabbing them by following this bad path which leads to self-destruction. Thus, young people should not behave in a way that could negatively impact their families within the society, knowing that we live in a conservative oriental society, and we like to hear the stories of the families and friends around us. The youth should respect their families and neighbors, and should have respect for those who have raised them. They should stay away from bad things that could damage their families and their reputation.
The parents have to continue their educational and instructive role towards the children. They have to know their preferences, thoughts and expectations to encourage the good and promising aspects they have inside each of them. At the same time, the government has to play another role. It has to know the value of the youth and their role in building the country. We have to take care of them and give them what they need such as secure and stable life, they have to have job opportunities and make life easier to them. This plays a great role in achieving the ambitions and dreams of the youth. They help in keeping them away from the sick ideas, fanatic activities and deviation from the straightforward path. The scholars and men of religion have also a role in showing the truth about terrorism, they have to give constant advices to our youth about the crimes and thoughts of terrorism which are far away from the ideas of the Islamic religion, they actually have nothing to do with Islam. This can be achieved through religious sermons and TV programs. Such issues have to be discussed and not ignored.
The person who commit such horrible crimes doesn't care for the results of his acts; in fact his deeds affect his own family, clan and tribe with their customs and rules. His acts are against Sharea, law and all the familiar customs on the local, family or even international fields. Islamic law prohibits this act; the poet says," Nations last as long as there are ethics…but if these morals are gone, also they disappear."
Children must be introduced to the Islamic accepted Islamic concepts and beliefs according to the standards of Islamic rule. They must be taught the acts of worship, good manners. The Method of God in the actual human life represents the spirit of honesty for which God created man. To practice the Method of God in this word, is the first issue in man's life on earth; it is the issue upon which generations must be raised teaching the family the manners of Islam is considered to be the safety valve for the community within which the conditions of individuals and society are straightene, and by which security prevails. Its effect can't be removed easily, to the contrry, we gain safety and stability for our generations who feel safe, emotional and who can defend the right and restore rights for the oppresed, in addition to their sense and care for the human soul.
The presence of a suicide bomber in the family naturally affects the family's reputation in the community where it lives; also, it has a negative psychological and social impact. The community regards the bomber with a look of dissatisfaction. Families thrive on good reputation and adhere to the principles and values that return benefits and gives them prestige among other families. So, the head of the family must keep an eye on his children, so there will not appear a single one among them that may offend its moral character or commit outrageous behaviors such as suicide attacks that do not benefit and only harm innocent members who are not involved in the conflict between different groups, regardless of their status or lineage, or even its position among others. We as members and individuals in these families have to maintain our appearance and our status among the neighboring tribes and families without shedding blood, so as not to fall into the clutches of crime, or so that we will not be required to make restitution to those we assaulted.
if there is a change in a person mantality from a good person into a terrorist, it will be the perants' responcipility only because we as a parents can shap the the child the way. and if a simple mind animal can take care of his children why we as human beings should not?!!! sorry for the family but for sure it is still thier mistake. at the end may Allah help all of us to better taking care of the kids.
There is no power except from God! I really don't know what to say! May God bless the souls of martyrs killed by this monster! May God place them in paradise. As for this criminal's father, he could repent and free himself of his son's guilt, show that he is not responsible for his terrorist acts. Religion and law don't punish the father for his son's deeds. But there is one important point that I'd like to address the families and parents throughout the Islamic countries, Islam is a tolerant religion, and all sheikhs and men of religion must be tolerant just like their religion. Parents shouldn't send their children to learn from the extremist teachers of religion. As a father, I must ask about Imam of the mosque if he is extremist or moderator, what are his concepts, because the teacher and preachers lead our children and affect them, make them do the good things and make them useful for their societies. But the extremist preachers lead our children to abyss and make them tools of killing. At the same time, I ask the governments to supervise mosques; there must be a certain authority in charge of this supervision so that mosques will not be centers of extremism. Thanks brothers and sorry for being too long!