In case you have not heard the news, the ramifications of al-Ghad’s irresponsible journalism continue to reverberate.
Thousands of Iraqi Shi’ ites protested Monday after hearing reports that relatives of a Jordanian suicide bomber suspected of killing 125 people in the town of Hilla celebrated him as a martyr.
After breaking into the Jordanian embassy in Baghdad and tearing down the flag, protesters called on all foreign Arabs to leave the country and then denounced Jordan’s King Abdullah.
The journalist that wrote the story has also found himself in trouble with the law. According to Petra news agency (the state news agency), the interior minister announced that the reporter, Hadi al Nsour, was arrested for "publishing false information that harmed the country." Personally, I think it shouldn’t be the journalist alone that takes all the blame. There had to have been a page editor and there should have been a managing editor that allowed this monstrosity to be published.
This all developed because of one tiny inflammatory article published in a new daily that is trying desperately to be “controversial." Amazing no? This likely would not have happened several years ago when the Arabic media published inciting articles regularly but got away with it. Things are no longer the same due to modern technology. If this didn’t teach al-Ghad a lesson, I don’t know what will.
It really is a scandal and a major embarrassment to each and every Jordanian. We say in Arabic "Fada7oona alla yefda7hom," or "they scandalized us,
May God scandalize them." And this is exactly what the suicide bomber,
his family and al-Ghad did to us! They tarnished our reputation. On a personal note, today an Iraqi Shia acquaintance
approached me saying: "What, you guys are celebrating? Natasha, I’m
going to kill you!" He was joking, fortunately.
With regard to the demonstrations, what’s with the the Star of David painted [see picture] on this particular Jordanian flag? On Aljazeera I even saw a report showing an Iraqi holding a banner decrying the "Jordanian (Israeli) Government." Does everything in this region have to be a ‘Zionist conspiracy?’ Grow up people!
Ladies and gentleman…
Iraqi blogger, please, you talk as if Iraqis are saintly.Those who live in glass houses should not throw stones. Let’s see. How do Iraqis treat an African in Iraq?
How do they treat a Yemeni? Please explain why the word yemeni is used in reference to “old shoe”.
Actions have consequences? Whoa there, maybe we will see the flattening of Baghdad in response to what happened in Falluja.
Actions have consequences…Iraqis who wanted this invasion can now reap its fruits. Choke on it.
Jordan made money off of Iraqi blood, that’s true, but because Saddam’s government wanted it that way. And the current puppet mangy dogs in Iraq want it that way.
As for suing govenments, why not start with the Iranian government for its meddling and various assassinations in Iraq? Or the Turkish secret services playing havoc in the north?
Or the Syrians, or the Saudis. How about the Kuwaitis who stripped Iraq of materiel and encouraged the looting? Dude, why stop there? Go all the way and sue the damn yankees, the snifling, roach-infested Brits, the Poles, the Ukrainians, the Italians.
If you have bitterness towards Jordanians, then you should have it for all Arabs vis a vis the Iraq situation for the past 25 years.
Focusing on Jordan in this way is not fair.
Hey Bruce since when we started shooting the messenger? I am waiting for an apology from you.
With regard to the flag situation, the Jordanian flag does have seven points instead of six, like that showing the picture. You can compare between the Star of David here and the Jordanian flag here.
The seven points on the star symbolize seven verses in the opening surah (called al-Fatiha) of the Quran. They are also said to represent seven principles: faith in a single creator, national spirit, humility, humanity, social justice, aspirations and virtue.
We’ll see what we can do about that banner just for you there Bruce.
Regarding an apology and so forth, you are singing to the choir here Iraqi Blogger. Please don’t take the author of this blog to task so directly, as she has been highlighting the problem, drawing attention to it from around the globe and pushing for just such an apology and for ramifications for those that are reponsible.
My dear dear Natasha, there is no Zionist conspiracy. You very well know, if that Jordanian family was celebrating the deaths of slain Israelis or Americans, the Jordanian government would be all over the matter, the celebrators would be arrested, probably even handed over, and the Jordanian public (and media) would be ferociously decrying the act for days.
But in the case of Iraqis (Shiite Iraqis), the Jordanian gov., or the paper in question, doesn’t even bother to issue an apology for the grievance your citizens have caused hundreds of Iraqi families (many many more). They are after all rafidha, no? And we’ve all heard the prejudiced statements of your American-bred ‘king’ against Iraqi Shiites.
I hope the families of the victims sue the Jordanian gov., maybe even take the case to international courts, for all it’s worth. After all, your whole country has only prospered these last twenty years on the expense of Iraqi blood.
There are Iraqis now in my country calling for retaliation, for murdering Jordanians and Palestinians working or residing in Iraq in accord to our time honoured Arab tradition, for sending out a squad to murder Banna’s family and tribesmen in El Salt. Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth.
Maybe that would be a bit extreme, but I would fully support cutting off diplomatic and trade relations between the two countries.
Actions have consequences, my dear Natasha. I’ve been to your country and I’ve heard the abuse and I’ve gauged the hatred. Your country still provides asylum to criminals who have murdered my people. You can’t have your cake and eat it at the same time my dear.
I have full respect for you and your writings. But unfortunately, this is not enough. You have to do a little more to prove to us that you are still worthy to be called our ‘Arab brothers’.
Interesting times in Lebanon!
Once again, the decent folks of Lebanon are flooding the streets, waving flags, and generally putting on a good impression of a respectable mass movement.Estimates of the crowd are running from 800,000 to more than twice that.
Hey Natasha,
there’s another type of media irresponsibility going on, and I’d appreciate if you could help me redress it.
al Jazeera and the other Arab networks are giving the Beirut demonstrations that took place today minimum coverage.
Please take a look at the pictures posted in the link below, and forward it as much as you can.
Thanks!
http://www.tayyar.org/galleries/displayimage.php?album=103&pos=70
Very true Iyas. Did you see what Metalordie’s said on an earlier post? He said that an Iraqi source told him that these demonstrations were encouraged by Ahmad Chalabi, who as you know is wanted in Jordan.
Don’t know if this is true, but it makes you wonder, don’t you think?
Dear Ms. Twal:
Regarding your request for people to “grow up” and stop inferring a Zionist conspiracy in every situation, you may want to consider modifying the graphic of the Jordanian flag at the top of your web page (i.e., expose more of the star’s seven points). To me, it looks rather much like the bottom half of the Star of David, and I wouldn’t want you to be accused of supporting the tiny democracy west of Jordan (unless, of course, that’s what you intended). Also, could you explain the significance of the seven-pointed star on the Jordanian flag?
Thanks,
Bruce W.
The Arab masses are still largely ignorant. We are very emotional people who do not stop for a second to think rationally with the pieces of crap we carry in our skulls. The mental midget who scribbled the Al-Ghad story wrote it for the people with the same level of intelligence as the ones who demonstrated in response to it. In this instance, I blame the wiser Iraqi opinion leaders for allowing the situation to exacerbate. But then there are a few who have their own anti-Jordan agendas whether this article was published or not.
BAD JOURNALISM CAUSES IRAQI OUTRAGE
Natasha Tynes is reporting on an unreported story in the mainstream press that I’m finding particularly interesting. You may all remember a few thousand Iraqis protesting against the insurgents when a car bomber blew up a couple hundred Iraqis. Natasha…