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Iraq Nabs 'Mother' of Female Terrorists

Accused of recruiting 80 suicide bombers

By Peter Fearon,  Newser Staff

Posted Feb 4, 2009 3:33 AM CST
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(Newser) – Iraqi forces have arrested a woman suspected of recruiting more than 80 female suicide bombers, the Times of London reports. Samira Ahmed Jassim, known as “the mother of the believers,” has confessed to sending 28 women on suicide missions. Jassim also admitted to planning the rapes of many of her recruits, then offering the bombing missions as a way to escape the shame.

Officials says Jassim, 51, “directly supervised” the training of female terrorists, including an elderly woman who was persuaded to blow herself up at a bus station. Female bombers have become increasingly common in Iraq. They can easily hide explosives in their robes and male guards will not search women. Attacks by female bombers jumped from eight in 2007 to 32 last year, according to US military data.


The wreckage of a bus bombing in Baghdad in 2008. A female suicide bomber blew herself up near an entrance to the US-protected Green Zone.
The wreckage of a bus bombing in Baghdad in 2008. A female suicide bomber blew herself up near an entrance to the US-protected Green Zone.   (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)
Blood stains are seen at the site where a female suicide bomber struck northeast of Baghdad.
Blood stains are seen at the site where a female suicide bomber struck northeast of Baghdad.   (AP Photo)
Samira Ahmed Jassim in a detention facility in Baghdad. Jassim has confessed to recruiting and training 28 females suicide bombers.
Samira Ahmed Jassim in a detention facility in Baghdad. Jassim has confessed to recruiting and training 28 females suicide bombers.   (AP Photo/Qassim Abdul-Zahra)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 9 comments
Guest
Oct 17, 2009 12:40 AM CDT
While killing infidels (Non Muslims) is consistent with the teachings of the Koran, killing in the name of God is inconsistent with the Bible. Jesus teaches us to love even our enemies.
Guest
Feb 4, 2009 9:44 PM CST
And this should be your first clue that religion in general is problematic...
Nwambe
Feb 4, 2009 6:18 AM CST
Hey, let's compare notes for a second. Islam has Osama bin Laden, yeah? But don't you Christians have Torquemada? Adolf Hitler? (He was a practising Lutheran) the whole of the Knights Templar? yeah... I think Christianity's got us whooped when it comes to killing people for no clear motive. What about Pope Benedict and his work with the Hitler Youth? Before you go around cussing out the world's largest religion, you should probably do some fact-checking.

A catalog of female suicide bomber attacks
Associated Press

'Mother' bomber arrest offers rare glimpse into terror network
Associated Press

Iraqi security taking it 'one day at a time'
Los Angeles Times

 
insurgents • Sunni militants • suicide bomber • terrorist • female suicide bomber • al-Qaeda • Iraqi Army

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