Abdul Majid al-Khoei (16 August 1962 - 10 April 2003)
Khoei was the very embodiment of samaha - a word that does not have a direct equivalent in English as it means more than tolerance, implying acceptance and grace towards other people. - Faruk Jarrar
Khoei's killers understood his spiritual goodness only too well, and the real threat he presented to their profound evil. - Emma Nicholson
Khoei was the best of Islam, and the best of Iraq - Charles Tripp
"I know, somehow, that only when it is dark enough, can you see the stars". No matter how long it takes, there must be no wavering in the cause of freedom to which Khoei aspired - Lord Avebury
He was painfully aware of the divisive stereotypes which, quite literally, destroy people's lives, and did everything he could to combat them in his adopted country. But, the exile always marked him. He would repeatedly say 'I want my country to have a future' - Michael Wood
15 comments:
Allah Yirhama.
Ilaah Rahmatullaah
May his soul rest in peace, but i urge you not to go too far to the other side, do not forget your friends, and do not think of those who are your friends, are really your friend.
You have a blog of an Israeli who does not beleive in a two state solution, you have spoken well of allawi a man who has surrounded himself with those who deny the anfal campaign and hate the shia.
You Speak of Bush as he is your uncle, even though the war was good, he mishandled the situation so badly that is cost Iraq thousands of lives.
Be fair, but dont go too far on the other side.
May god bless your father
Allah Yerhama,Iraq lost so many of its great people. Allah yerhamhum kelhom.
I agree with the above comment, some of your statements even suprise me.
May Allah bless you, your family and Allah bless Iraq.
Anon thank you for the message. Going "too far" is a very subjective thing to say. I know many people don't like what I say but I will not change my opinions to suit the people around me.
When I speak about Bush, I realise he has made tremendous mistakes in Iraq and I have spoken about these American blunders on this very blog, in fact even in the previous post, but that doesn't change the fact that Bush and Blair made the right choice with regards to the war. The details we can debate.
Its the same with Allawi and Maliki and Hakim et al. They have done some good and they have done some bad. No one is perfect. There isn't a single politician today in Iraq who is "clean" and who is running with candidates who are all "clean". If you find such a man, please let me know and I will make sure to vote for them in the next election.
May Allah(swt) have mercy on his soul.
I would like to know how you define a "just war". What makes it just? Surely the intention is critical. Do you think America invaded Iraq for the good of the Iraqi people? Do you think an Iraqi life means anything to America? If the answer is "no" then it cannot be described as a just war, nor can the invaders be applauded for their action. However, if you answer "yes" then we have more of a problem. A study of America's track record should tell us something about their disregard for human life, their contempt for the rights and sovereignty of other nations, and something about their agenda.
I believe it was a just war because the war contributed to the end of Saddam. Call me consequentialist, utilitarian or what you like but IMO that is enough for me to believe the war was worth it.
i agree the war was a good thing in the long term, and that the people of iraq have freedom, and no one is worse than saddam. Most importantly the shia have taken their rightful place as the rulers of iraq.
However its not a just war, even though i supported it as well, it was a bad war that suited the interest of te iraqi people.
A very touching post Hayder, also intersting to read a little history of your political beliefs and where they came from.
Its a shame that your father was taken from the world at such a young age, not only because he left behind a wife and children but because he had alot to teach every one still.
I dont think anyone has alot of right to judge the Iraqi people for there beliefs during this war no matter what they felt or how big a spectrum there emtions shifted back and forth.
I hope that 7 yrs later you can remember your father and always feel happy things instead of sadness because he is gone.
h.m.
I would ask you to think about what constitutes justice. Can the byproduct of an action be called just, regardless of the motive for the action?
What if I were to poison a well and everyone who drank from it died? Then a murderer came along and drank from it and died. Surely according to your definition my action would have been just as I will have rid the world of a killer and saved lives as a result. But what about all the innocent people I killed? What about my original intention? Perhaps I wanted to kill as many people as I could. Perhaps I am the real villain.
Azzawi you are trying to over-simplify a very complicated issue here.
How many people would complain if a young Hitler and Stalin drank from the well you poisoned?
It's not that black and white. I have an opinion about this war as do you. I respect your opinion but I do not agree with it. I don't understand where you think this discussion is going but if you want me to play along tell me.
I'm afraid you missed the point I was making. What if Hitler drank from the well and died? His death may have saved many lives, but was my action of poisoning the well just? I have committed mass murder by doing so; I am an enemy to the people. But what if my action goes unpunished? What if I am even applauded for doing it? I will get away with it and be free to commit greater crimes in the future.
It is one thing to say that getting rid of Saddam and his regime was a desirable consequence, which it was, and another thing entirely to say that this was a just invasion.
If the perpetrators of this invasion are praised for what they have done, and if this is called justice, not only will our understanding of the concept of justice be perturbed, but we will have accepted our enemy as friend and helper. And we will have facilitated future crimes.
The perpetrators of this invasion should be praised for the good they have done and also be condemned for the bad they have done. If you have been reading my blog you would have instantly realised I do both these things. US foreign policy is a complete mess and the central theme to this foreign policy seems to be hypocrisy but on Iraq, and Afghanistan, they made the right choice.
It is impossible to make a judgement based solely on intention in this case because the US-led invasion intended many things.
Dear Hayder
Very sorry I didn't realise it was your late father's remembrance when we met up today. Do accept my condolences and I hope you realise that the Sayid died for the freedom of all Iraqis, and will be remembered forever.
May God bless his soul
Allah yur7ama. He was such a wonderful man who was always so polite and respectful to all he came across. Insha'Allah he's in peace and at rest with his Lord now.
It's such a shame that it's always the good who die young when the evil live for longer. Hayder, be like your father and stand for the justice he stood for. Be sure he's proud of you and everything you're doing right now.
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