Margaret Hassan

[stefania4]

This story has broken my heart ever since she was first kidnapped, and now they're reporting that she has most likely been executed. I've seen and read plenty about the war, and this incident touched me like nothing else has so far.

May God bring comfort to her family; she is surely in Heaven for having devoted the past 30 years of her life to humanitarian causes in Iraq.

[kima]

OH no!!! Where did you hear this? Was she beheaded?
She has been in thoughts every day...oh I hope this isn't true.

:( :( :(
And she did so much good....what barbaric monsters!:(

[stefania4]

NPR was reporting that Al-Jazeera received a video several days ago that showed a blindfolded woman being shot in the head. They can not be absolutely certain that it's her, but they have informed her family that they suspect it is. Her husband has pleaded for the return of her body for proper burial. It's hust horrifying.

[sharris315]

I heard the story earlier on CNN--a film supposedly of her execution was sent to Al Jeezera (sp?) who at least had the decencey not to air it. The family is sure that she is no longer living, but have not said what their proof is.

This is just so tragic. She had dedicated her life to helping the Iraqi people--what a pointless brutal act. Not to say that any of these acts of terrorism are no less brutal. Heart-breaking is a perfect term, Stefania, to describe this.

Shar

[Beth]

Awful. Just awful.

[stefania4]

Here's the link to the story on the International Herald Tribune website:

http://www.iht.com/articles/2004/11/16/news/hostage.html

[newtricks]

It's just so incomprehensible and brutal and feels so hopeless. It's sad though that now I'm not surprised. Danny Pearl's killing revealed the savagery of these people. I go from absolute icy fury at them to praying for some light on their souls and back again.

[HejazSunKat]

While I feel badly for all of the people who have been taken and killed I find her kidnapping and murder particularly disgusting because she was an Iraqi citizen (as well as British) who devoted her life to helping the Iraqi people via CARE. It only emphasizes what animals these insurgents are and that they have no 'cause' besides killing and destruction.

[MrsReber]

Linda, you have put my thoughts into words. These people just want to kill for the sake of killing. That is their real agenda. I thought I had seen last week that some of the terrorist other groups were actually calling for her release? It's horrible and so incredibly senseless.

[Kayaksoup]

This makes me feel so ill. I had hoped as time went by, that we wouldn't be hearing this bad news. She did so much for that country....

[honeygirl1971]

This is a such an awful, sad story. And it's going to be harder than ever to recruit aid workers for this troubled part of the world. :(

[stefania4]

Originally posted by MrsReber
I thought I had seen last week that some of the terrorist other groups were actually calling for her release? It's horrible and so incredibly senseless. That's true - she was not kidnapped by the same group (whose name escapes me) that has done all the horrible beheadings. Hassan's kidnappers threatened to turn her over to the other group if Britain's troops were not withdrawn; the other group said they would never take her, and it would be un-Muslim for her to be killed.