Three Somali teenagers who won a Quran recitation contest have been rewarded with weapons and cash by the Islamist group Al-Shabaab, according to reports from Somalia.
The first-place winner was awarded an AK-47 rifle and $700, a report from RBC Radio said. Second place was worth an AK-47 and $500, and third place got two grenades and $400, RBC reported. Winners also received religious books.
The contest was organized by Al-Shabaab-controlled Radio Andalus, the report said.
At an awards ceremony in the Mogadishu neighborhood of Elasha, Al-Shabaab leaders urged the teenage winners to use their weapons.
“We want the children to fight for defending of their country and their religion ... just take these guns,” Sheikh Moktar Robow abu Mansur, a senior Al-Shabaab leader, is quoted as saying. That means battling the Somali government and African Union peacekeeping troops in the country, according to the RBC report.
Pictures of the event have been posted on the RBC website and on an Al-Shabaab-affiliated website.
Al-Shabaab is a radical al Qaeda-linked group challenging Somalia's central government, fighting an endless civil war, and forcing a strict form of Sharia law on local residents.
© 2012 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
| Advertising practices | Advertise with us | About us | Work for us | Help
hell yeah thats a contest!
This is just like our country, where "guns and god" is thought of as a good thing. End the delusion of religion, and have a
more peaceful world.
The new recruited terrorist essay contest?
freedom fighters perhaps? Unlike the catholic terrorists in ireland
This is so wrong in so many ways.....
This makes me furious. No wonder the world hates muslims; most of us aren't like this, but its the few that constantly do gun contests that ruin it for all of us.
Right, gun contests... that there is what's giving the muslim community a black eye.
And which big western country brought these weapons to Somalia for geopolitical strategies to maintain kapitalism...?
yeah the US is the only country in the world that makes weapons! we make them in hollywood too along with movies and have santa deliver them to the rest of the world. idiot
Winning essay went something like this : When I was five years old, my daddy gave me an american flag and a match. I looked at both items and tried to decide what I supposed to do with them. Well I lit the match and set fire to the flag. When I did that, my daddy was so proud of me that I knew right then and there it was the right thing to do. Well, to this day I hate america. I have no idea why, but that is what my daddy expects.
Signed
Abdhulaa Boola Boola
Sad thing is this is true and Americans will never see little kids throwing grenades at you in combat, someone teaches hate, that's how we know we were in or close to bad neighborhoods in Iraq, but then next city block they throw flowers and bread, crazy?
It's not often in journalism that you can say "the headline says it all."
But in this case...........the headline says it all.
And now I wait for all the peaceful muslims to denounce this.....................................................................................
4th place won a suicide vest
And a handbook explaining about the rivers of honey and 72 virgins.
72 is not many, when you consider how long eternity is.
@bimbo
LOL
@moji, I assume you are being sarcastic, but in case you are not:
1) The AK-47 is a Russian made weapon. China and Pakistan also make knock-offs.
2) The IRA laid down their arms years ago. I don't recall them ever giving guns to kids when they were active.
Ofc im sarcastic.. What about the real ira? My uncle in there still active. The muslim brotherhood in afghanistan got ak47s too from the us to fight the russiabs back then. Irony :p
If the NRA had a gun winning essay contest, you'd all be claiming they're exercising the second amendment. Stop the hypocrisy.
I wouldn't. But don't go by me, I'm Canadian.
Also, does the NRA advocate gun use by teenagers, or grenade use by anyone?
I think a more apt comparison would be if the Westboro Baptist church had the "essay contest".
Religion of PEACE!!!
@bobcat2u – these are children not adults. Also a grenade for 3rd place? Get over yourself and your false religion...
What the hell you talking about John ? Have you ever heard of humor ? I guess you've mistakenly assumed I am of the muslim faith ? How did you come up with that conclusion ?
Hey banasy, Bimbo, and scottish mama , John here obviously thinks I'm a muslim terrorist. That is just to funny. He must be a new poster.
@Bimbo, is 18 not a teenager? And I never said anything about grenades. My post was about the gun component.
My teacher said they might be needing them to go deer hunting. Kids are starving over there. They might get a 12 pointer or some rabbits for supper. Who are we to judge?
That's nice that you and your teacher able to get high together.
I hope to God your teacher isn't hunting deer and rabbits with grenades.
don't think they have deer in that area of the world, least not with the daught. More likely they gona use those weapons to hold up food handouts or take food from others.