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Student Rape-Murder Gang Shuts Iraq U

Shia student group accused of campus campaign of terror

By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted Oct 20, 2009 2:31 AM CDT

(Newser) – One of Iraq's leading universities has been shut down while authorities attempt to purge it of a sectarian student gang accused of carrying out a campaign of murder and rape. Professors, administrators, and fellow students have been targeted by the Students League, a shadowy group of Shia students said to hold sway over campus security and even the courses of study of Mustansiriya University's engineering and law programs.

The university descended into chaos ahead of the closing, professors and students tell the New York Times. Two rival administrators claimed to be chancellor, and the Students League openly paraded on campus to intimidate Sunni and Kurdish students. Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, himself a Mustansiriya graduate, finally stepped in this month after a professor who had been pistol-whipped by the group arrived at his office still wearing his bloodied clothes and with untreated gashes on his face.

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Iraqi students hold banners during a demonstration in front of Baghdad's Al-Mustansiriya University. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)

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They have spread an atmosphere of terror at
the university. - A Mustansiriya University professor

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 4 comments

Silverbow7

Oct 20, 2009 11:56 AM CDT

We never had any business being there in the first place. I don't see any way to get out unless we arm everyone and teach them how to defend themselves then get out and let them form their own government. We are going to be paying for this 'Bushism' for a long time. Like you noted, Jayster, it is not the people our money is helping over there... except for the socialized medicine.

Middleman

Oct 20, 2009 7:43 AM CDT

Ahhh... the Arab culture. Sad part is that there are a lot of really great people in Baghdad, but they (like most of the good people in the world) aren't newsworthy.

bewilderbeast

Oct 20, 2009 2:36 AM CDT

@UrUndertaker, don't respond to everything Jayster writes in kneejerk fashion. READ first. His description of the goal of the Bush/Cheney USA in Iraq is spot-on. Get the hell out of Iraq already, Obama! Go home - there is plenty that needs doing there.

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Crime & Courts • World

Iraq • Baghdad • Nouri al-Maliki • university • Shia extremism • Shia militia

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Student Rape-Murder Gang Shuts Iraq U