Two Somali soccer fans executed, 30 arrested for watching World Cup

Two Somali soccer fans have been killed by Islamic militants after being caught watching World Cup matches on TV. A further 30 people were arrested by the group, which has imposed a strict version of Islam in the areas it controls in southern and central Somalia.

WTH! The World Cup is good for Africa... The Somalians should support the World Cup!!

Somalia should respect their ban on the World Cup and focus on pursuing jihad. “We are warning all the youth of Somalia not to dare watch these World Cup matches,” he said. “It is a waste of money and time and they will not benefit anything or get any experience by watching mad men jumping up and down.”

Sounds like an article from The Onion.

Religion of peace, right?

Good gracious lord have mercy on these people.

Wow. I wonder if the militia boys watch the Muslim countries play and curse them as infidels. Or maybe it's because Algeria is the only Muslim nation to make it into the tournament? Somalia is a septic tank and they obviously want it to stay that way. I say let them build walls and never come out. Including past their national waters.

Jesus. These people are loonies.

Two Somali soccer fans executed, 30 arrested for watching World Cup

the al-Qaida linked al-Shabab group, has imposed a strict version of Islam in the areas they control in southern and central Somalia.

Oh geez....and i wonder why most of the western world think that Islam is ridiculous and shake their head at how pathetic these types of laws are??

The more I hear anout Islam and the actions of fanatlical Islamists like these people, the more I think it is an anathema. How sick, and how hypocritical can these people get?

I don't believe in truly hating my fellow man, but the people who do this (and those who support/defend them) make me want to change my mind so badly. They murdered these people over a SOCCER GAME. That is disgusting, and anyone who thinks this is somehow okay needs their head examined.

i'd like to ask a islamic expert: how does soccer violate any religious tenets?

The World Cup is good for Africa... The Somalians should support the World Cup!!

What's good for Africa is often not what is good for Allah.

A state that outlaw the WC - there is hope for the world. Should really change my name to "BoredOfTheWC" and I have not even watched any of it yet!

A couple thoughts.

Rational Islam, as I understand it, does not have a problem with music, soccer or any other rational activity.

Irrational Religious Zealots of any flavor are a danger to both freedom and human rights.

These primative types in Somalia and their buddies in the Taliban are actually afraid. Of what you may ask. The answer is very simple. They are afraid of losing control over the way they imagine the world to be. See the Tabiban believed that the source of all their trouble was the influence of outside cultures on their insular tribal ways of life. Their overreaction to this idea was to ban even things that had previously been natural parts of Afghan culture, like music and art.

We will see more and more of this extreme behavior as relatively primative cultures come to the shattering realization that the old ways, real or imagined, are dying in the face of global change. Those unwilling or unable to adapt will react out of fear and often with violence. Sadly most often at the expense of the local innocent population.

Very good points, tkoind2. Sometimes it's so hard to differentiate though, but yes, there are crazies in every religion. And you are so right about their reactions. The world started becoming a lot smaller a long time ago, but these radicals are just now realizing it. What else to do but react, and in the most radical way possible!

ratpack et. al: "Oh geez....and i wonder why most of the western world think that Islam is ridiculous and shake their head at how pathetic these types of laws are??"

This is not ISLAM, it is a radical perversion of Islam, as the article says itself. But since you probably didn't bother to read it and just drew your own racist conclusions;

"Hizbul Islam, just like its ally, the al-Qaida linked al-Shabab group, has imposed a strict version of Islam in the areas they control in southern and central Somalia."

You see? very different sects of Islam. Can't expect a bigot to understand, but a person in your shoes from another part of the world might sit in awe and say, "Those Christians are nothing but ultra-radicals who kill each other" when they heard that a Catholic nut killed a Protestant, but didn't bother to think that there might be any differences and just lumped them all into one religion. Even THEN it's still a stretch. My point is that you cannot say all of Islam is bad based on the actions of the ultra-radical morons. That would be like saying all Christianity is bad/terrorist based on the Methodists who murder abortion doctors, or the Christian Nazis who arm up and plan to take out the government.

Islamic militant: It is a waste of money and time and they will not benefit anything or get any experience by watching mad men jumping up and down"

Right on, right on, right on, lol!

The waste of time and money is following these Islamic militants.

These guys need to step into the 15th century.

smithinjapan at 05:20 PM JST - 15th June

Christians do not kill other Christians for not following their religion.

Jews do not kill other Jews for not following their religion.

Muslims DO kill other Muslims for not following their religion.

You can talk down to everybody on the site all you like, but is changes nothing, Islam has a built in ability to kill that does not exist in other religions. Killing two young men for simply watching a football match may be an extreme act but it is only possible when the main religion fails to take control and explicitly denounce killing on religious grounds. Something that Islam as a whole has failed to do and probably can’t do given it’s principles of faith. Any religion that advocates death to the none believer is toxic and can only be seen that way by sane people.

MistWizard at 07:10 PM JST - 15th June

“A lot of Christians were convicted of genocide, including pastors and even nuns.”

From this are we to assume that you are saying they killed other Christians for religious reason?

If so the maybe it is you that should “Scroll down to 1994 and get an education.”

They killed for tribal reasons that is a very African thing.

I hope all you sad people who always defend islam have a great time when a muslim government gains control of your country

These people are a waste of oxygen! Once again Islam shows how peace-loving it really is!

We're talking about the lawless lands of Somalia. Surely, people are aware of that, I hope? Anyway, as far as I know, the most influential muslim country of them all, Saudi-Arabia, has a football team. Labeling this on "islam" (as always) is always funny to see. Can anyone point out where in the the Qu'ran watching a football game is illegal? No?

Remember, the actions of psychopaths is just that. Nothing more, nothing less.

Death penalty for football... I wonder what they do if they catch you watching 'Sex and the City'?

“I hardly give a crap about what so-called "reasons" they make up for killing people.”

Well given that these two young men were killed for doing the disgustingly unIslamic thing of watching football don’t you think that countering that with an argument that does not involve religion might be seen by most people as being a little pointless?

“If the religion cannot prevent more death than it causes, dude, I got no use for it.”

I would actually agree, but might go further and say I really can’t understand why an intelligent mind feels it needs to believe any of these silly things.

tegomas at 08:52 PM JST - 15th June

“Can anyone point out where in the the Qu'ran watching a football game is illegal?”

Page 217, same page as not watching TV. I wonder where Sabi is today?

"I wonder what they do if they catch you watching Sex and the City?"

Slow torture spread out over three weeks, then death.

I appreciate your permission to express my opinion, thank you. I heretofore give you permission to do the same, though I see you've done so without my permission previously. How dare you! :)

"...but is changes nothing,"

To the intolerant, of course it doesn't. When you're not willing to hear anything but that which you want to hear, why would logic stand in your way?

"Islam has a built in ability to kill that does not exist in other religions."

Please! Give it a rest. Islam, INTERPRETED in certain ways, the same as any other religion, has the 'built in' ability to kill. Please don't make me refer to passages of the bible that call for killing the enemy with the sword and what not, or to the crusades, etc..... it's boring, and you guys always find excuses to dismiss it anyway.

"Killing two young men for simply watching a football match may be an extreme act but..."

No buts at all, it IS an extreme act, hence the article points out the Islamic sect and says it is much like the Al-Qaida sect of extremist Islam.

"...it is only possible when the main religion fails to take control and explicitly denounce killing on religious grounds."

No, it is only possible when morons choose to interpret it to mean they can kill without any repercussions because it is god's/Allah's will. Again, ask any Christian nutbag why they killed an abortionist or did this and that and they will say, "I was doing god's will". Does that mean all of Christianity is insane? No. Now, if those radicals get power, as is the case in a number of nations or areas within nations, THEN you've got a serious problem, as is the case here. But again, that's not the religion, but the nuts that interpret it the way they choose.

thepro: "I hope all you sad people who always defend islam have a great time when a muslim government gains control of your country"

Wow... the paranoia has really gotten to you, hasn't it. You should have said, "The Muslim government or the Chinese!". Come on, bro, you're smarter than that.

Millions of Muslims in Islamic countries are watching the World Cup and enjoying it.

What radicals are doing is just as wrong as is condemning an entire religion for the actions of a handful of crazy individuals.

"the actions of a handful of crazy individuals"

It's more than a handful of crazy individuals, yabits.

Beelzebub: Death penalty for football... I wonder what they do if they catch you watching 'Sex and the City'?

They force you to watch it to the end.

Seriously, tho, I think we're seeing the type of people where "winning hearts and minds" doesn't really apply....

"They force you to watch it to the end."

Surely that would end in their own demise also?

What do they do for entertainment in Somalia?

You don't want to know Pukey, you don't wanna know. Public stonings? Dismembering people? Islamists are trying to control Somalia and of course install their own religious fanatacism on the populace, so this is what is to be expected.

Pretty accurate charaterization of soccer, though.

Remember, the actions of psychopaths is just that. Nothing more, nothing less.

It's just too bad that these "psychopaths" are on the increase. That's why I have no problem in having our guys there to fight idiots like these. If it denys them a base to plan attacks on us all over the globe or their own populations I'm for total genocide of "islamic extremists". If the UN were not so piss poor politically correct maybe they could have changed Somalia for the better back in the early 90s but they got their ass kicked out by these rag tag types and emboldened the "psychopaths" to come in and take over. But I guess Somalia doesn't need any help from us to deal with them so as long as it stays in their own yard I have no problem with it. But yes for them to kill normal Somalis for a Soccer Game is just more proof that these "psychopaths" need to be dealt with harshly. I don't want this to be a growing trend in the world. Somalia will have to find a way to deal with them in their own backyard because they don't want our help. Africa is just a big toilet that can't unclog itself.

“We are warning all the youth of Somalia not to dare watch these World Cup matches,” he said. “It is a waste of money and time and they will not benefit anything or get any experience by watching mad men jumping up and down.”

a) The youth of Somalia and other nations, need to take a stance against these murdering scum.

b) The benefit of watching games like the World Cup is that they can learn about racial, cultural and religious harmony amongst all nations of the world. Something these pathetic militants are scared will happen.

c) The only "mad men jumping up and down" are the imbeciles who want to kill innocent people for doing what they want!

Someone please take out these jiihad idiots already!

Not to attack Islam but killing is written in to their beliefs no such things exist in most other religions ( Judaism does for some things labeled as deserving death but modern reality has taken root and it is no longer even an issue), the only religion that has an actual death penalty for leaving it is Islam (I'm not talking about threats of eternal damnation but actual physical death) so I really don't see this sort of thing ever stopping because their will always be some maniac bringing up the fact that it is written in the Koran.

The big problem with Somalia is that they border other countries such as Kenya and have been exporting their crazy religious ideas to the border areas there and if they could they would gladly impose their beliefs on everyone their Muslim or not.

militants will find any excuse to use their weapons

Killing and mass murder is also written in the christian bible... however this is a small groups of bastards that are terrorising people, using religion as a means to do so. It is a shame, it seems that religion, is the downfall of society after all, for all its morals, it is a rather ironic thing.

Agree with yanderei.

European history till recently(Ireland, etc) is full of Christians killing christians, etc.

Even the peace-loving buddhist still kill each other in southern thailand and also fight muslims, etc.

Just human nature I guess, people want to be the top-dog at any cost.

And as I said before Judaism, christianity and islam share the same basic beliefds, scripts, prophets and worship the same god.

For me this is not a sign of the religion but of a leader that uses religion to further his own goals.

And humans will still fall into the same trap in the future.

Agree with Zenny11. Next, The Somali Inquisiton

Lol goes to show how much people really know about the history of Islam and mr. Mohammed. Keep on wallowing in ignorance, without knowing what culture and society was bred in the middle east. Small group of fanatics? There are about a billion muslims in the world, and hundreds of thousands of extremists and fundamentalists. Thats not a small group, and there is a reason they're able to take over small countries.

For the record folks, Allah was a pagan god, and Mohammed was born in a village of basic pagan worship. Later on to win over the followers of Christianity and Judaism he mixed and matched what little he knew of their beliefs.

Its best to hear about Islam from those who were born and raised as muslims, and left. They're a much more reliable source than Islamic propagandists. Christianity and Judaism may have had their day, but they don't any more because as many of you agree. And as you guys said, Islam currently does persecute those who leave the religion. The apostates will tell you this is nothing new and there is no surprise here.

"Christianity and Judaism may have had their day, but they don't any more because as many of you agree, they came into the modern world"

honestdicator.

You show your ignorance of Islam. Allah = Jehovah.

honestdicator

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ten_Commandments

Enjoy the read.

This is sure to win converts.

I sincerely hope that the people who read this article aren't as ignorant as their comments make them seem. As a Muslim, I can assure you that these Somali extremists are just that- extremists. Just like in other religions, extremism is completely unacceptable and often its only connection to the religion is in name only. You only insult yourself by suggesting every Muslim, or even a majority, are ignorant and prone to such blind violence.

Another fine example of the "Religion of Peace."

There extremists in EVERY single religio, unfortunately. People who take scriptures too far, too literally and who do not learn that EVERYBODY deserves to live, respect and lead their lives with love and freedom. People who are extremists are breaking every rule they are supposed to be teaching or working for, they are greedy for power and are disrespecting the lives they should be protecting. I do not believe in any god myself, but for what i gather, every religion is supposed to be teaching love... I dont see that, and it is a shame. No religion is free from this, they have all comitted and continue to commit crimes against humanity, be these sexual or against the freedoms of the people.

Lol, as I said, I've learned about Islam from those that grew up muslim in muslim countries. Learn about apostates and why their so against Islam. www.faithfreedom.org enjoy the education.

grafton said: Christians do not kill other Christians for not following their religion. Jews do not kill other Jews for not following their religion. Muslims DO kill other Muslims for not following their religion.

And who says a ban on the World Cup and TV is part of Islam? Some extremist nuts, that's who. You let extremists nuts speak for Islam but no other religion. Why is that? Bigotry, that's why.

Moderator: Readers, other religions are not relevant to this discussion.

Read the about us section, the site was created by an Iranian Canadian Faithfreedom International echoes the voice of ex-Muslims who want to stop the spread of Islam, expose its violent nature, and help Muslims to understand it and leave it.

Also look up the council of ex muslims. There is a reason these groups exist.

Its not the people, its the ideology behind it.

From the mouths of ex-muslims and muslims born and raised under Islamic ideology. From a muslim woman. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7OYRknGgEc

From a muslim cleric. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVR72P8xzTs&NR=1

From an ex-muslim during a debate. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqvskXCz-kk

Reason being why are places, like Somalia, being taken over by a "religous" group to instill a "religious" government? Come back when you can answer that.

As the scarecrow said in the Wizard of Oz... "I think its gonna get darker before it gets lighter". When is this extremist religious crap going to end??? Who gives a damn if you are this religion and i am that religion??? Any religion that allows death in the name of their god isn't worth the paper it is written on. Take it to a deserted island and scream at the top of your voices 'in the name of (insert your god name here)' and then just blow yourself up for crying out loud.

HonestDictator said: Reason being why are places, like Somalia, being taken over by a "religous" group to instill a "religious" government? Come back when you can answer that.

Because for some, if you really believe in God, Yaweh or Allah, you believe there is no higher authority and no authority that should ever trump his authority. Separation of church and state does not mesh with certain religious beliefs.

However, how soccer and TV got to be against any religious sect's beliefs, even a branch of Islam in a very backward country, is beyond me. Extremists make stuff up as they go along. Check out the Lord's Resistance Army in Uganda. Also fun are the National Liberation Front of Tripura and Evril LeBaron. These fanatics in Somalia are not alone, and none of them represent the mainstream.

You keep forgetting, Islam has a POLITICAL agenda besides religious "beliefs", keep thinking of these extremists as religious fanatics and keep telling yourself that and see where it gets you. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100616/ap_on_re_as/as_philippines_kidnapping

"Authorities initially suspected the Abu Sayyaf was behind the abduction. Pama, however, said the kidnappers appeared to have been allied with another rebel group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

Abu Sayyaf militants are notorious for ransom kidnappings, beheadings and deadly bombings in Zamboanga and the nearby islands of Basilan and Jolo. The larger Moro rebel front has been negotiating with the government for Muslim self-rule in the south"

Same situation as this, different country, just a bit harder to instill Islamic law in the Phillipines for them. I can easily find many many many more examples of this not so “mainstream” fanatacism in various countries. Muslims are profoundly silent in addressing the Imams and scholars that teach this “extreme” ideology of Islam If the majority is so against it, why is it not being quashed. The majority of muslims I've talked to have always been extremely quick and defensive of criticism of their religion, or getting rules or regulations in place to benefit them, but very very rarely condemn or even attempt to repel what these Islamic extremists do. Perfect example is how the Nazi party took over Germany because the people ignored it. Turning a blind eye from an infected sore never bodes well for any patient.

Yes, the GAY MUSLIM LEAGUE has an opinion on this aswell

The Religion of Peace in action in Somalia.

tokind2:

" Rational Islam, as I understand it, does not have a problem with music, soccer or any other rational activity. "

"Rational islam" is a contradiction in terms. "Islam" means submission to rules, as enforced by the Taliban and by Al Saba in Somalia. And those rules are not rational.

I think what you mean is "limited" islam, where the rules are not strictly enforced.

WilliB said: The Religion of Peace in action in Somalia.

Executions are done in a variety of "religious" countries and the relationship to Islam of these rules is practically non-existant. It is readily apparent that the are a simply a bigot promoting hatred of Islam for an extremely isolated event.

mmmm I'm a Muslim myself, and I would've said that this "ban" is a laughable matter only if it wasn't that tragic, for instance, Saudi Arabia which is known as one the most extreme countries in applying Islamic laws out of their own views, never ever discussed such a funny ban, I have a Somali religious Muslim friend who curses those (so called Islamic group) day and night since she longs to meet her Grandparents but she can't even visit her country in such war like conditions, instead of saying useless phrases like "religion of peace" as a parody, you should better sympathize Somali people who suffer from those militia group inside and outside somalia. And eventually I have to say that those criminals are not only murderers, but also extremely stupid.

i agree with @ratpack....Any religion that allows death in the name of their god isn't worth the paper it is written on. It's just ridiculous...ppl should be able to live there lifes the way they choOse to as long as no one is being hurt in the process...Its a sick world out there when you have to be afraid of being yourself, cause your to afraid your gonna get killed by some freaks, how can you be religious if your a murderer?...some ppl are brain washed into believing some wierd s*it! This is a sad world we live in when you cant watch t.v in your own home without being killed for it.