The Old Git Posted August 31, 2004 Share Posted August 31, 2004 Will the French Government give in to the terrorists and change their law re banning headscarves in schools? Were Jewish skull caps and large Christian crosses also on the banned list just so it wouldn’t look like the French were picking on their large Muslim population? Will the hostage takes murder the French journalists if they don’t? France has been suspected of paying off ransom demands before but to change their domestic policies in response to terrorist demands would be a huge climb down. It would give a signal to terrorists that some countries domestic and foreign policies could be changed by acts of terrorism and hostage taking. In view of the French Muslim opposition to the hostage taking have the opportunist hostage takers misread the feelings in France? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Speckled Frost Posted August 31, 2004 Share Posted August 31, 2004 These hostage takers have gone too far. Taking such action to secure the freedom of fellow countrymen or to try and force the hand of governments who have waged war on your country is one thing but this is just bizarre. The French government can't back down over this, what next? That guy looked at this muslim bloke all funny and we'll kill this hostage if he doesn't apologise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Declan Posted August 31, 2004 Share Posted August 31, 2004 The French Law included all large religious symbols and was supported by (a narrow) majority of French Muslims. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Old Git Posted August 31, 2004 Author Share Posted August 31, 2004 True, but Were Jewish skull caps and large Christian crosses also on the banned list just so it wouldn’t look like the French were picking on their large Muslim population? Did the French govt say one day "There's too many people wearing large crucifixes, we'll ban then along with skull caps and headscarves" What was the religious garment or icon that first kicked off the need for the ban? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Old Git Posted August 31, 2004 Author Share Posted August 31, 2004 The French government can't back down over this, what next? Trouble is, once one government gives the appearance, to some people, of backing down in the face of terrorism then it encourages others. Some might link Spain's withdrawal of troops with the Madrid bombing or the Philippines withdrawal of troops after the taking hostage of a Pilipino truck driver and be encouraged by it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WilDDog Posted August 31, 2004 Share Posted August 31, 2004 Will the hostage takes murder the French journalists if they don’t? I would say so, if there past record is anything to go by. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Old Git Posted August 31, 2004 Author Share Posted August 31, 2004 But some have been released, e.g. the British journalist in recent weeks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WilDDog Posted August 31, 2004 Share Posted August 31, 2004 True, you just don't know what they'll do though. So unpredictable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P.K. Posted August 31, 2004 Share Posted August 31, 2004 I suspect that the militants only discovered they were French after they had grabbed them. As France was the EU nation most opposed to toppling Saddam Hussein and as they have always supported the Palestinian cause the best the militants could then come up with was the way they banned overtly religious symbols in schools. It does say a lot about how the militants really do not care who they murder or for what. Just being an infidel seems to be enough. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Old Git Posted August 31, 2004 Author Share Posted August 31, 2004 That was my thought as well. Grab whoever you can, then make demands based on whatever nationality they are. I think the French govt's initial reaction was "why us?" based on their anti war / pro palestinian stance. The French Muslims supprt for the Frennch government against the kidnapping might leave the kidnappers wondering how they can get out of the situation without losing face. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Old Git Posted August 31, 2004 Author Share Posted August 31, 2004 Nepalese hostages killed in Iraq Twelve Nepalese hostages have been killed by their captors in Iraq, a Nepalese ambassador has confirmed. Pictures posted on a website by Islamic militants appeared to show one hostage being beheaded and 11 being shot dead. Nepal's ambassador to Qatar said it was one of the "worst days" in his country's history. The militants said the 12 Nepalis had been executed because they "came from their country to fight the Muslims and to serve the Jews and the Christians". The group, Army of Ansar al-Sunna, said the men were being punished for helping the US, and it had "carried out the sentence of God" against them. The 12 are thought to have travelled to the Middle East to earn money as cooks and cleaners. ...... Nepal's Foreign Minister, Prakash Sharan Mahat, said the executions came as a shock because "there were no demands or deadlines." http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/3614866.stm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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