Guest Pilau Hands Posted November 22, 2002 Share Posted November 22, 2002 By D'Arcy Doran, c. The Associated Press KADUNA, Nigeria (Nov. 22) - Christian youths retaliated against Muslims in this northern city Friday in the third day of riots triggered by a newspaper article about the Miss World pageant. Red Cross officials said about 100 had died and 500 were seriously injured in the violence. Beauty pageant spokeswoman Stella Din said organizers were ''saddened'' by the deaths but would not cancel the event, scheduled for Dec. 7 in the Nigerian capital, Abuja, some 225 miles southwest of Kaduna. ''The show definitely will go on,'' she told reporters in Abuja. Sporadic gunshots and shouting could be heard in the northern city of Kaduna, which has seen the fiercest fighting. Angry mobs have stabbed and set fire to bystanders and rampaged through streets. At least four churches have been destroyed by fire. The violence began Wednesday, when the Kaduna office of ThisDay newspaper was torched after the paper published an article questioning Muslim objections to the pageant. The article, published Saturday, suggested the prophet Muhammad would have chosen a wife among the contestants. The newspaper ran a brief front-page apology Monday and a longer retraction on Thursday. On Friday, plumes of black smoke rose above this tense, religiously mixed city of several million people and authorities extended a round-the-clock curfew - although many ignored the order. Young Muslim men shouting ''Allahu Akhbar,'' or ''God is great,'' ignited makeshift barricades of tires and garbage. Others chanted, ''Down with beauty'' and ''Miss World is sin.'' In neighborhoods dominated by minority Christians, witnesses said youths smashed windows and set fires in mosques used by the ethnic Hausa and Fulani Muslims who dominate Kaduna. Fearful residents sought protection at police stations and military bases. ''The soldiers have been very helpful, giving us bandages and first aid. Everyone is here - Muslims, Christians and pagan. We are all afraid of going home,'' said Habiba Ibrahim, who spent the night in the city's defense academy near the government clinic where she works. ''Only God knows when this will end.'' The bodies of those slain in the streets were taken by Red Cross workers and other volunteers to mortuaries. It was not clear exactly how many were killed. Nigerian Red Cross officials reported about 100 dead by Friday morning, said George Bennet, head of the International Federation of the Red Cross delegation. He stressed an exact figure was impossible to confirm. Other Red Cross officials said Friday that more than 500 people had been injured. Previous riots in Kaduna, a predominantly Muslim city with a sizable Christian minority, have escalated into religious battles that killed hundreds since civilian government replaced military rule in 1999. Islamist groups have warned for months that they would protest the pageant, prompting organizers to postpone the finale until after the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. Muslim groups say the pageant promotes promiscuity and indecency. In the article that prompted the spasm of violence in Kaduna, ThisDay writer Isioma Daniel said, ''What would Muhammad think? In all honesty, he would probably have chosen a wife from among them.'' Security forces patrolled other major cities Friday, including the northern trading hub of Kano, where Muslim women peacefully protested. ''We are calling on the government to stop Miss World, this show of shame. For women to expose herself to men other than their husbands is forbidden,'' said one of the protesters, Hadiza Usman. Miss World organizers insist contestants have respected conservative Muslim values by dressing conservatively. The pageant also caused controversy elsewhere; at least five contestants are boycotting it to protest judgments in Nigeria's Islamic courts that condemned several women to death by stoning for getting pregnant while unmarried. Contestants from Costa Rica, Denmark, Switzerland, South Africa and Panama stayed away. Nigeria's government insists none of the judgments will be carried out, although it has refused to intervene directly with the Islamic court system. AP-NY-11-22-02 1051EST Copyright 2002 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ...good idea guys. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mental invalid Posted November 22, 2002 Share Posted November 22, 2002 fucking people......god may not save your soul, but he can get you killed........ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abracadabra Posted November 22, 2002 Share Posted November 22, 2002 fighting over religion - the 1 thing stupider (stupider?) than fighting on the internet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest sneak Posted November 22, 2002 Share Posted November 22, 2002 Originally posted by Mr. ABC fighting over religion - the 1 thing stupider (stupider?) than fighting on the internet no! it cant be....(sarcasim) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
!@#$% Posted November 22, 2002 Share Posted November 22, 2002 honestly though...to bring a fucking BEAUTY pageant into a country that is still STONING women to death for having kids out of wedlock?? i am not surprised at all that a country based in islamic fundamentalism would erupt in riots after hearing that the beloved muhammed would approve of such a travesty... beauty pageants are just as fucking ridiculous..as rioting over religious beliefs.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rip Posted November 22, 2002 Share Posted November 22, 2002 i dont understand why religions always fight..............thats probably because i dont beleive in a religion huh?:king: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Just Like Me Posted November 22, 2002 Share Posted November 22, 2002 awalys fucking fighting Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T.T Boy Posted November 22, 2002 Share Posted November 22, 2002 http://www.animationartgallery.com/images/SIM/SIMP673.jpg'> always with the punching and the kicking..... and the hurting. glyvin! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest uncle-boy Posted November 22, 2002 Share Posted November 22, 2002 ^^^^^^^^^^^ :lol: side note: i saw that on the news and it made me sad. there were dead bodies int the streets and people just walked by them like its nothing.:( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest -MOE LESTER- Posted November 23, 2002 Share Posted November 23, 2002 this sounds sort of fuck this lame space shit.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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