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.
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ah, reality. could it get any more perverse and ironic?
this is so absurd I laughed...how about we give them 1-nuke to share and they all gather round to poke the button.
I got 4th place and nothing. They couldnt even hook me up with a hand gun. Don't worry I will try again next year
You were probably NOT great at memorizing those verses dealing with lesser mortals!
We all heard of what one terrorist mother said to another after her kids had grown and gone... "Alas, they blow up so fast"...
Hmm... Last time I checked AK-47s were manufactured in Russia.
Actually yes and no...other countries produce more now.
We can't blame the Islamists.....it's all AMERICAN POLICIES and lack of opportunities (again America is responsible!) that's to blame for this kind of behaviour.......that's what Mr. FAREED ZAKARIA will say!
What will Mr. Zakaria want us to do.......Let's pump in a few billions in aid, import a few 100's of thousands and build bridges between the Muslim world & America.
PLEASE LET's NOT STEROE TYPE THEM; THAT's NOT WHAT AMERICA IS ALL ABOUT!
Pure and utter insanity. There goes the religion of peace again.
There goes morons attaching Islam to terrorism again! Mostly cause they're gullible enough to believe CNNs hype but still...
How is this any different than something the Tea Party might advocate? Seriously??
Last time I checked, phunk, the Tea Party does NOT advocate islamic terrorism. Attend a Tea Party rally sometime and get an education outside of what the anti-conservative media rams down your throat.
Killing the people with AK-47 is not the answer. Love and respect develop the peaceful unity between the two enemies. This is what God wants to see. AK-47 should be banned.
Sure beats having to save up 75 Capt'n Crunch box tops for an Oscar Meyer weenie whistle.
Of course after they read the Quran they need to practice. That is what the guns are for
@bobcat2u:
You forgot the sarcasm font.
Uh,moji? AK-47's are EASTERN bloc weapons and have been in Somalia for years,provided by the old Soviet Union either directly or through friendly Arab and Affrican nations. Look up your history.
Ah the religion of peace is at it again. Why am I not surprised.
We are looking at reaction, we need to look carefully at our action that set muslim world against us; may be we can learn something, and change our arogant way.
Maybe these kids are training to be pirates. They say being a Somali Pirate is a big deal over there. They may even be butt pirates.