Al-Qaeda in Yemen recruiting child soldiers for combat in Abyan

Al-Qaeda is recruiting hundreds of children in its war against the Yemeni army. [Khaled Abdullah/Reuters]

Al-Qaeda is recruiting hundreds of children in its war against the Yemeni army. [Khaled Abdullah/Reuters]

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Yemeni officials and human rights activists have confirmed that al-Qaeda has resorted to recruiting child soldiers, often taking advantage of the country's instability and high rates of unemployment and poverty.

Officials in the southern province of Abyan said al-Qaeda is recruiting hundreds of children in its war against the Yemeni army. Al-Qaeda is attempting to establish an Islamic emirate in Abyan, following its declaration in Jaar in late March. It has also been engaged in battles since late May in Zinjibar, the capital of Abyan, for control of the city.

Nasser al-Munsari, secretary-general of the local council in the Khanfar Directorate, where Jaar is the administrative centre, told Al-Shorfa, "Al-Qaeda recruited many children under the age of 18 once it took over Jaar. They use methods of persuasion and intimidation with parents, or they try to convince them in the name of religion to obtain their consent to recruit their children."

One of al-Qaeda’s tactics in Abyan, according to al-Munsari, is to lure families with money, especially poor families, and convince them that their children will be supporting Islam. The use of religion normally encounters no resistance among Yemenis due to the conservative nature of the Yemeni society and the fact that it holds religion as indisputable, he said.

Ahmed al-Qurshi, head of Seyaj for Childhood Protection, said that according to the organisation, there is evidence al-Qaeda is recruiting children, especially those aged between 13 and 18 years old.

Al-Quraishi added, "We proved that al-Qaeda recruited about 50 children in Abyan. Some of them were killed in the fighting there, and others are still fighting."

In a troubling pattern, children are being recruited for violent operations. Al-Qurshi recalled the assassination attempt against the British ambassador in Sanaa in April 2010, which was carried out by a young person.

Al-Qurshi said al-Qaeda targets children from poor or broken families because persuading them or their families is easier. Seyaj documented a case of a child who suffered because of his mother's bad reputation, so al-Qaeda recruited and trained him, then looked after him. He was then sent to Iraq to fight with the organisation. He declined to name the child for security reasons.

Al-Qurshi said Seyaj has documented cases of arrests of children by the security forces on charges they belonged to al-Qaeda in Aden and Abyan. He said Yemeni law considers a child to be under the age of 17 years. International laws prohibit and criminalise the use of children in armed conflicts and wars.

Abdul Rahman Barman, a lawyer who is president of the Sajeen organisation, told Al-Shorfa, "Children and adolescents can be managed easily and can be recruited to carry out terrorist acts at a lower cost."

Convincing them is easier, he said, because it is enough to tell them that they will end up in paradise to encourage them to die while conducting a terrorist operation. Barman said Yemeni law does not provide for punishment for such crimes.

"We recently suggested in a workshop that the children's law or the penal code should include provisions criminalising the recruitment of children," Barman said, noting that other nations and international treaties modified their laws on the issue.

Barman added, "The recruitment of children by terrorist organisations, especially al-Qaeda, is a crime because it is an assault on the children, and thus on the present and future of the nation. These organisations are training a group of thugs and bombers who will attack society and destroy its infrastructure, and economic resources."

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    ادهم

    2011-10-11

    The Taliban movement is a despicable, malicious and cowardly movement and it always calls for committing despicable acts, including murder, the slaughter of citizens and the violation of rights and sanctities. They are now targeting civilians, especially the suicide bombers there, to stir up fears and kill innocent people. They kill to control the situation. I support the countries that call for stopping these fears and these despicable acts. I am one of those who want somebody to put an end to these despicable acts. I hope there will be a quick solution for this issue, and God willing, things will be better in the near future and there will not be any despicable and cowardly operations. What are the innocent people guilty of? They are only innocent people who did nothing wrong, and this despicable movement is killing them. We want there to be specialized entities to destroy this movement and to weaken it to the point that it no longer can do anything. We cannot forget the crimes committed by the despicable Taliban movement against children when it sent them as human shields and recruited them as suicide bombers to be the scapegoats for their filthy acts. O God, rid us of them and their evil, those damned cowards. God willing, the coming few days will witness good news and we will hear that we got rid of all the terrorists who do not want the betterment or improvement of the Arab and Islamic nation. I pray to God, the high and the great, to rid us of terrorists all over the world and of the cowardly terrorists of the al-Qaeda organization.

  • ميثم عبد الرحيم

    2011-10-9

    The kidnapping of children by the Taliban and holding them hostage has become a shameful and loathsome act, and the true nature of the Taliban groups and what they are up to have been exposed to the whole world. They are using children as a shield in order to carry out their filthy and cowardly activities. This shows and proves to the whole world that they are misguided, low and despicable elements that are loathed by all of humanity. So, such acts are a crime against childhood and children as a whole. What wrong have the families of these children done? They do not know what the fate of their children is. The government and the security forces should chase and hunt down and arrest all these misguided elements of the cowardly Taliban groups that are undermining the security and stability of the country. They use children as a wall of protection which they hide behind. It has been proven that these groups are the most despicable ones on the face of the earth, due to their behaviors and their filthy and low activities, which are proof of the violence and the criminality that they inflict upon all people. They are armed gangs that roam and wander about among the people so that they can carry out their crimes with barbarity and violence.

  • رابع الحديثي

    2011-10-9

    The activities perpetrated by the Taliban, regarding the taking of hostages, especially children, is truly a cowardly act. It shows the barbarity and harshness of these people, and it shows that they are devoid of any conscience, morality, religion or belief. They are simply groups engaging in whatever they are told to do by their leaders. Taking children hostage is nothing but a ludicrous act that shows the stupidity of these groups that do not have any sense of responsibility or fear of God. They hold children hostage because the latter are powerless, and consequently these innocent children are exploited to carry out everything that they want to do, or they use these poor and innocent children to engage in activities that break the law and violate sanctities. This is truly a crime against childhood, and it is a cowardly and lowly act, which shows the baseness and depravity of those who engage in the kidnapping of children or assaulting them. They are nothing but savages and perverts that behave like animals, and they are not human beings at all. What crime have these children committed with regard to what is going on? The Taliban groups are gangs, groups and bands that are armed and dangerous, and they should be gotten rid of and eliminated so that people can live in peace, stability and calm, and so that children can be secure and safe from violence, criminality, savagery, fear or apprehension.

  • العقيد صادق

    2011-10-9

    I believe that the suicide attacks that are carried out against innocent citizens by groups called the Taliban groups, and which involve killing people by means of suicide operations, are absolutely unacceptable. This constitutes the mass murder of innocent people, and the taking of lives for no reason. My view regarding what is happening is that, first of all, this is something that is affecting the killer himself. This is an act of suicide, and God has forbidden taking one’s life by committing suicide, and it is an inhuman act. Secondly, this act causes the death of many Muslims, and taking lives which God has forbidden, except when it is legitimate to do so, is considered an unjust act and a crime against humanity, and it is a criminal act. Thirdly, this act tarnishes the image of the Islamic religion, and gives the impression that Muslims are terrorist gangs, and that they always engage in killing people, and that their goal in life is to act like savages and criminals. This is all that the Taliban and al-Qaeda groups do, because they are purposely tarnishing the image of Islam, and most of those whom they kill are innocent Muslims who have done no wrong. So, I don’t know the objective behind launching these suicide attacks in the midst of Muslims and people who are gathered in markets, office buildings and places where there are many people. What is the purpose of engaging in such activities? Anyone who commits such an act is devoid of any conscience, humanity, compassion and mercy. They are people without conscience, religion, principles, ideology or belief. So, why do they kill themselves, and what is the purpose behind this, and who benefits from this? This causes harm to people and distorts the image of the Islamic religion, showing it as a religion of violence and crime. However, the truth is that the Islamic religion is one of mercy, tolerance, love, hospitality, morality and righteousness. So, the attacks and suicide operations targeting innocent people are, in my view, acts that are indicative of violence, criminality, savagery, and an erroneous ideology which is rejected by all of humanity, including all sects, religions and denominations.

  • عيون المها

    2011-9-27

    This issue has to be dealt with accurately and terrorism should never be tolerated. Terrorists should be besieged in Abyan governorate and should be destroyed as soon as possible. They should be fought and the intelligence element should be activated to discover all their hideouts, because we don’t want terrorism and al-Qaeda and its members to use the time and establish their cells in Abyan governorate, because then terrorism and its filthy ideology will further grow and spread to other places in the remaining governorates of Yemen. These might have fertile soil for the cultivation of terrorist ideas, especially since the country is going through the current circumstances and the situation is unstable. Therefore, this is where the role of the Yemeni army and the Yemeni forces comes in, to fight terrorists in Abyan and destroy them with the utmost power and not give them the chance to breathe and rearrange their papers. Therefore, they have to be besieged and attacked as strongly as possible, to get rid of them before destruction, bloodshed and attacks against civilians take place in Yemen, the same way it did in Iraq and Afghanistan or Pakistan. This situation will be repeated in Yemen, especially since the infidel terrorism executed some operations in Abyan governorate. I am calling on the army and its leaders to focus on terrorism; their duty is not to protect Ali Saleh, their job is to protect the country from threats. This is the real threat that should be focused on, and other things should be ignored. Rid us of terrorism, please, because the country will be truly destroyed if terrorists are able to spread their base in Yemen.

  • hameed

    2011-9-27

    Abyan governorate in Yemen is currently one of the most dangerous areas in the country, due to the presence of the al-Qaeda organization trying to take control of it and to declare it as its own emirate. This is because they want to transfer the leadership of the al-Qaeda organization from Afghanistan to Yemen and make it a base for their evil and aggressive actions against safe communities, and to control all the surrounding countries and extend their influence on them by taking advantage of the preoccupation of the Yemeni community with the Libyan revolution to change the regime, provide services to citizens and establish the principles of justice. It is also because of the cessation of security operations carried out by the security forces against this criminal organization, due to their being preoccupied with controlling the troubled security situation in the country. Once the security forces realized the growing threat of al-Qaeda and the emergence of their movements, they put an accurate plan in place in order to attack the members of this organization and eliminate them from this governorate. After putting their trust in God, the security forces headed to Abyan, supported by masses of tribes in Yemen, to participate in this honor battle in order to expel terrorism from this governorate and arrest its elements. Fierce clashes took place between the security forces, backed by tribesmen in Yemen, and the Al Qaeda organization, till the army and tribes achieved a brilliant victory over their enemy. The first outcome was the killing of more than 300 terrorist elements from the al-Qaeda organization in Abyan governorate, Yemen, at the hands of faithful Yemenis, which led to restoring the security and stability of the country. The country has been cleansed of this deviant gang which doesn’t wish good for any of the communities on the earth, because they believe in bloodshed and disrupting security in safe communities in order to satisfy their ego, intellectual deviance and the belief they want to spread among people. Therefore, the security forces in Yemen are in dire need of vigilance and caution in order to make the country’s enemies, such as the al- Qaeda organization and other criminal gangs which practice theft and looting acts, miss their opportunity. The security forces need also to set up police stations in various areas, to serve as a focal point for enhancing the relationship between the police and the society. They also need to meet the needs of citizens in various areas of security and other fields.

  • ستار الرميحي

    2011-9-23

    It is important to pay attention to this particular region in order to avoid the terrorist attacks and operations that can lead to the death of many innocent Yemenis. Thus, the Yemeni security forces must perform their duty toward the country in order to prevent the terrorist attacks and to protect the citizens from any danger, God forbid. It is also important to put an end to these events from the outset. In fact, Yemen must learn a lesson from what has happened in Iraq due to the terrorist groups who have shed a lot of innocent blood. This is in order to prevent any person from disrupting the Yemenis’ unity and from sowing discord. Thus, it is important to be extremely careful and cautious.

  • وجدان

    2011-9-22

    The security leaders in Yemen are preparing to implement a plan in the province of Abyan in order to get rid of the remnants of al-Qaeda. This is also in order to clean the country of all the criminal gangs of al-Qaeda. These remnants have tried to dominate the city by force. In fact, they have used al-Qaeda in order to dominate the rest of the provinces. However, the different security forces in Yemen have prevented them from achieving their objectives, thanks to their vigilance and prudence. In fact, the security forces have prepared a good plan in order to fight the terrorist organization of al-Qaeda in Abyan. Thus, they succeeded in launching a quick attack and surprising the members of al-Qaeda. This has led to the death of 300 members of al-Qaeda. This operation was carried out by the different security forces during the month of Ramadan. This has led to the great victory of the Yemeni armed forces. In fact, they have succeeded in achieving a smashing victory over al-Qaeda in Abyan. Besides, the committees of the different Yemeni security forces have prepared a new plan in order to launch another attack on the remnants of al-Qaeda in the province of Abyan. This is in order to get rid of al-Qaeda completely. This is also in order to restore security and stability through protecting the innocent citizens from the terrorist operations that have been carried out by this criminal organization. In fact, the terrorist organization of al-Qaeda has tried to claim innocent lives in order to sow fear and panic among the safe people. This is also in order to weaken their security aspect and to dominate the region. However, the security forces have prevented this organization from achieving its objective. In fact, the security forces have launched strong attacks on this organization. This has led to the death of many members and the escape of the rest.

  • hadeel

    2011-9-22

    The courageous security forces have fought terrorism in order to achieve security and stability. In fact, they have fought the crimes in the country in order to protect the citizens through strengthening the security level. This is in order to protect the country and the people from all the attacks that can threaten their life and mar their happiness.

  • مفكر ادبي

    2011-9-22

    The situation in Abyan governorate has become bad, because the terrorist al-Qaeda organization is challenging the government and is trying to destabilize security and stability in Abyan governorate. It is trying to create and form more cells for itself, so as to spread terrorism in the governorate. Those terrorists have carried out a number of terrorist attacks and bombings in Abyan governorate in an attempt to control the regions and to expose the army and the police to attacks, and we should not keep silent about this at all. The security forces should move seriously so as to save the people and Abyan governorate residents from terrorism and from the evil of the al-Qaeda organization, which is trying to impose its domination there, attempting to recruit the largest possible number of the youth who have little awareness to work with it and to exploit the conditions through which the country is passing. Therefore, there should be a strong and strict response to terrorism, and it should be confronted with all available strength. This is the duty of the security forces, the army and all the state systems. Work should be at the highest level to reach all the terrorism cells and al-Qaeda, to prevent it from carrying out the terrorist operations more and more and prevent its spread and to spread security and safety in the governorate, because their existence poses a threat and a great danger to the security of Yemen and the neighboring countries, not only Yemen.

  • جودت

    2011-9-20

    The Yemeni forces must get rid of the despicable members of al-Qaeda in order to protect the Yemenis’ lives and to let them enjoy peace and security. I pray to God Almighty to help us to get rid of the terrorist organization of al-Qaeda. In fact, Yemenis have gone through tough times. Thus, we must not remain silent. And the Yemenis must hold demonstrations in order to topple the regime of the despicable Ali Abdullah Saleh, who has caused the people’s suffering. Thus, we want them to finish this problem by toppling the cowardly terrorists. It is important to think of the criminals of al-Qaeda. This is in order to control the borders and to alleviate the suffering. Thus, they must put pressure on the terrorist organization of al-Qaeda, which is present in the province of Abyan. This is in order to get rid of all those who don’t want the wellbeing of Yemen and Yemenis. Yemenis must also reconstruct their country. This is in order to resume their normal life, their studies and their work. Terrorists of al-Qaeda are cowardly members. Believe me; you will be able to expel them quickly. And I’m sure that this will be achieved very soon, thanks to God’s help. In fact, the heroic Yemenis have arrested many members of a1-Qaeda, who must be killed wherever they are. This is in order to get rid of them completely. In fact, the province of Abyan has been known for the presence of the terrorist organization of al-Qaeda. At the same time, the army and the citizens have cooperated in order to get rid of the cowardly terrorism and terrorists.

  • عبد الصاابر

    2011-9-20

    I ask every honest Yemeni to defend his land and his honor, because Yemen is the only place that can protect them. And God Almighty will be with them. In the coming days, we will hear good news about Yemen, God willing. In fact, we will eradicate terrorism, God willing. And Yemen will be much better than it was in the previous time, thanks to the help of the citizens, the army and the police. May God save us from all the terrorists in all the places of the Arab and Islamic world. And may God Almighty help the province of Abyan to get rid of terrorism and terrorists. This is in order to enjoy peace and safety.

  • besaan

    2011-9-19

    What do you want after all this? The president is giving away his power and he has said it a million times: the only goal of the president is to protect the security and stability and unity of Yemen, and he fears for Yemen from the opportunist Ahmar people and the Houthis, Al Qaeda and the separatists. Each of these entities is stronger than the other. You know, if the regime fell in Yemen, by God, it would be a fierce war, because each of these entities has its own agenda and ideology, and they seek power and money. Why do you insist on repeating the Egyptian and Tunisian experience, even though you know and you are sure of those countries’ strength, compared to your obvious weakness? If the regime falls, nobody will help you and those will destroy you, and you will not have an excuse like Ali to blame for your faults.

  • منذر النعمان

    2011-9-19

    First of all, I would like to salute this legendary resilience of the revolution’s youth in Yemen as a whole, and in Taez in particular, because today, it is paying the price of freedom. The people of this governorate dream of a civil state and its people are sleeping to the sound of cannons and weapons. Its people are rising in all the alleys and villages, in rejection of humiliation and degradation. We say to this backward regime, you stole our history, our present and our future; we have nothing left but our dignity. We prefer to die; what do you want?

  • مؤمن ضافر

    2011-9-18

    What happened in Yemen wasn’t small. The revolution has rid the Yemenis of the rule of Ali Abdullah. They are now scared of his return, because the ruling family still has full powers in Yemen. Saleh decided to come back to Yemen after his therapy is over. The national council of the Yemeni revolution was formed and it is causing division in the opposition. We are scared that strife would be stirred up again. We want the Yemeni people not to be lenient about this and to be the more serious party, or else it will lose everything, and we don’t want Yemen to get to this undesirable stage. The divisions within the opposition medium have no noteworthy results. Remember, people of Yemen, that Ali Abdullah Saleh could return any time he wants to until his health improves. The Yemeni people have to come together so that Saleh won’t return and so that further problems won’t be stirred up in the near future. We don’t want trouble; on the contrary. God willing, Yemen will go back to the way it has been before and even better; Amen.

  • مرزوق

    2011-9-18

    The despicable al-Qaeda has been responsible for a lot of cowardly, filthy acts, especially since it has always carried out murder, slaughter and booby-trapping acts in order to meet the demands of third parties. In fact, the province of Abyan has currently become a stronghold of al-Qaeda. They must be tracked down in order to be eradicated once and for all. In so doing, this organization will not be able to carry out such despicable and evil acts against Yemenis. Besides, the Yemeni security forces must get rid of the filthy al-Qaeda in order to preserve the lives of Yemeni citizens and to spread security and safety in all the Yemeni territories. I call on God the Almighty to rid them of the al-Qaeda organization, because they are currently going through tough conditions that cannot be ignored. In fact, people are going on demonstrations in order to topple the regime of the infidel and despicable Ali Abdullah Salah. The latter has exhausted Yemenis, especially since the latter are torn between terrorism and demonstrations. Therefore, we want them to make the right decision and expel all the despicable infidels and cowardly terrorists. It is also necessary to think deeply about the al-Qaeda criminals; otherwise, no one could take control of the situation and ease the sufferings. In fact, we must increase the pressure on al-Qaeda in Abyan in order to eradicate whoever does not want the wellbeing of Yemen and Yemenis. Besides, Yemenis should be careful about themselves and reconstruct everything that was destroyed during or before the Revolution, so as to restore normal life in terms of education and work at different levels. In fact, believe me that al-Qaeda members are cowardly people, and if you cooperate to expel them, you will do it very quickly. I am also certain that this issue will occur soon, God willing.

  • تكلام بشجاعه

    2011-9-7

    Stop lying! This is just overlooking the real enemy. Have you forgotten the Muslim children in Palestine, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq? You hypocrites!! The source of the site is the intelligence agency of the enemy. May God guide you!

  • looloo

    2011-9-6

    The terrorist al-Qaeda organization always clearly proves its criminality, despicableness, filthiness and infidelity. For example, it uses children as a means of fighting and confrontation, as it does in the south of Yemen; what then do we expect from such an organization? Using children in fighting and battles proves that the al-Qaeda organization’s ideology is sick and it also proves that it doesn’t have enough men to fight on their own. They try to put the security forces in a state of confusion, as they ask themselves how they can kill those small children who are bearing arms. The members of the terrorist al-Qaeda organization manipulate the minds of those children, using methods that distort their ideas. But this is forbidden and they don’t have the right to use those children and to allow them into this organization and to make them confront an entire army. They’re only children; this is wrong, you infidel al-Qaeda. God willing, we will be liberated from you and we will get rid of you, no matter how much you try to deepen your roots among us.

  • وهام

    2011-9-5

    The shame taking place and this despicable act has to be stopped, because it aims at destroying humanity at the hands of cowardly criminals who exploit innocent children in order to execute their poisonous schemes. This is completely unacceptable and this opinion is immovable, because this act encourages children to commit criminal acts and encourages ugliness, savagery, cruelty, criminality, murder and the shedding of innocent blood in return for money, or it deceives them, using religion.

  • kaka

    2011-9-5

    The recruitment of children by al-Qaeda groups is an unacceptable and criminal act that is not in any way related to humanity. Therefore, the ongoing process of recruiting children to exploit them in order to commit criminal operations is only a plan that aims at executing terrorist attacks against innocent citizens by the hands of children in their capacity as offenders who cannot be doubted or harmed. As such, the groups and gangs of the al-Qaeda organization recruit children to execute the despicable schemes that aim at causing harm to innocent citizens at the hands of children who are directed to bomb, destroy, murder and kidnap all citizens. Therefore, recruiting children is a terrible criminal act that is very cowardly and that causes great exploitation of those children because they don’t know the truth about what is done by all the groups of the criminal and savage al-Qaeda organization. They are exploited through talking about religion and faith and through tempting them with money so that they come under the command of the terrorist al-Qaeda organization. Therefore, it is very important to direct children and give them advice so that they don’t follow these terrorist groups that recruit them in order to execute their cowardly terrorist operations against innocent citizens. At the same time, this greatly damages the reputation of the Islamic religion before the entire world as a criminal and terrorist savage religion that incites the use of violence by the hands of children; what about the adult ones, then?

  • غريب في الدار

    2011-9-1

    I am one of the people who are most keen on paying attention to their children and protecting them from groups and gangs pushed by Al-Qaeda to abduct or recruit the children through their cowardly acts. The Muslims are people of belief and they know what they are doing, and Almighty God is with them and supports them in everything. This recruitment is a mean and hateful act, and I call upon the terrorists to stop what they are doing and to be more cultured and leave the children alone. As we know, the Taliban movement has carried out the same thing as well, through the children it recruited to carry out the mean and hateful acts. Everyone should know that God is the truth and He presents the truth and rejects the wrong. God willing, the status of Al-Qaeda on earth will be shaken, because what it has carried out and is carrying out is not a small matter, and they will witness a day similar to the day of their leader, Osama Bin Laden. O God, do not leave them a good day to live or a place on earth; Amen, O Lord, and keep the children who are the apple of the eyes in your secured blessing.

  • قمرالنهار

    2011-9-1

    Nobody should be surprised by any act committed by terrorists and their criminal organizations that target humanity with all their might. The terrorist al-Qaeda organization is one of the biggest criminal and excommunicating organizations, and it is prepared to do anything in order to further the goals of the evil and criminality it believes in.

  • شهاب عادل

    2011-9-1

    Members of this organization brainwash these children in order to prepare them to carry out terrorist operations, whether it be by using booby-trapped vehicles or suicide belts, or by planting IEDs in public places, etc. Al-Qaeda has even used some mentally retarded individuals in order to carry out its filthy criminal activities. This shows how depraved this organization is, and how it is despised by people in various societies. Today al-Qaeda is attempting a new maneuver in order to recruit the largest number of children it can and turn them into its members, by means of producing animated movies targeted at children in order to lure them into participating in the activities of this organization and carrying out terrorist attacks. It does this by inciting and stirring up the religious sentiments of these children and youths, and making them emulate the jihadi characters, and encouraging them to change the Arab regimes that are agents of the West and which have betrayed Islam. This is yet another trick used by al-Qaeda to win over the youths.

  • RAMIZ

    2011-8-31

    Children represent the hope of people and the upcoming generations. Therefore, attention must be given to this distinguished segment of society, and they should be protected from the threats posed against them, especially in the countries that witness an acceleration of violence at the hands of the excommunicating al-Qaeda organization and the terrorist cells that wreaked havoc in different societies and different cultures. This organization did not stop at just sabotaging society, but also waged a war against the security and peace of this or that society. This war that they waged is the first step to carrying out their terrorist schemes, where citizens take the first rank. Heroism will then be for the children whose innocence was murdered and whose laughter was lost in this reckless storm that turned society upside down because, as is known, the impact of wars, whether they are civil wars or terrorist wars, is that they leave behind orphaned and disabled children who have lost their parents. The number of children is constantly increasing because of the continuously increasing terrorist wars waged by terrorism against the safe, unsuspecting people. The availability of this segment of children represents the target they aspire for, because Al Qaeda’s terrorists have started recruiting those children to work under their allegiance, thus exploiting the poverty and helplessness of those children regarding providing for themselves. Therefore, they embraced them and provided for all their necessary needs in order to soon turn them into terrorists who will carry out their schemes. They do that through poisoning their minds with misguided concepts and principles in which the al-Qaeda organization believes. They encourage children to follow and adhere to these principles under flimsy, unfounded covers. One of these covers is that they commit these acts to support religion and to correct its path which has been deviated from because of the ideas that infiltrated into countries from beyond their borders. As such, the al-Qaeda organization’s recruitment of children is the biggest crime against children and humanity as a whole, and it is a shameful stigma that will remain in this organization’s records forever, and history will remember it throughout the ages, because they exploited this innocent segment which is considered the symbol of purity and innocence in order to kill innocent people.

  • جود

    2011-8-30

    These unbelievers and criminals, whose faces have been distorted by God Almighty, have also targeted children. In fact, they have tried to carry out their heinous and brutal crime of exploiting children. In fact, I indict and condemn the despicable and cheap methods of this criminal organization. At the same time, I’m not surprised by this cowardly act, because anyone who can kill and bomb children can also exploit them using animated movies.

  • صالح زيتون

    2011-8-30

    May God curse the cowardly terrorist al-Qaeda groups who are spiteful towards childhood and all of humanity. They are really filthy, because they are taking advantage of children’ innocence, because they cannot find anyone to carry out their despicable, cowardly and shameful acts. Thus, they resorted to exploiting children. Therefore, we must beware of such acts against our children and follow up on every tiny or big act. We should not ignore all the issues coming out of our children, no matter how simple they are. Then, we should give advice, guidance and instruction for them in a continuous way. We should also warn them so that they will not carry out any harmful act against people and they will never talk to strangers no matter what.

  • ظاظا

    2011-8-25

    The acts committed by al-Qaeda are stupid and despicable, and they show no good promise. I’m one of those who hate this organization the most, and I want God Almighty to erase them from the earth. I pray to God to turn them into monkeys and even more terrible creatures, so that they become an example for all the despicable traitors who stir up strife in the Arab world. The malicious al-Qaeda wants to control Yemen and particularly the governorate of Abyan, to turn Yemen into an Islamic country and a center from which it will commit acts of filthiness and cowardliness, and commit all the crimes it wants to, including encouraging minors to commit despicable acts, whether in Yemen or in other Arab countries. This organization is weaker than any bug in the land. By God, if they were really men, as they claim, they would have confronted all those they want to confront directly, not by recruiting innocent children who don’t understand the truth behind what’s happening and the damages of these operations. They are cowards, because they use minor children to commit these despicable operations. I hate al-Qaeda and I pray to God day and night to destroy al-Qaeda, so that God would erase them from the earth. They use God’s beloved creatures from the new generation. I call for standing up in the face of terrorism and the cowardly terrorists, and I want the authorities to rescue children from the hands of those filthy terrorists. I pray to God Almighty to rid us of the al-Qaeda organization everywhere, Amen. Yemen has to be restored to better than it used to be, and all the al-Qaeda organizations have to leave it, and we have to destroy them so that children will become the new future that calls for goodness, love, building and development. Al-Qaeda shouldn’t interfere in the affairs of Yemeni children and should leave them alone.

  • يمني حر

    2011-8-25

    It is a crime against humanity to use the Yemeni children in fighting. In fact, they have violated their laughter and innocence, which are considered people’s hope for the future generations. These terrorists have put the children in the bloody battlefields in Abyan, which has become a stronghold for terrorists in Yemen. In fact, they have tried to recruit children and the youth who are under the legal age by using all methods, especially since the Yemeni people are very poor and the unemployment rate is very high. This is in addition to the instability of the security situation in Yemen. And it is certain that the terrorist organization of al-Qaeda has been responsible for all these events taking place in Yemen, especially the civil war that has affected the country. Today, Yemen is witnessing the same problem that has led to many innocent victims, such as orphans and widows. Thus, the terrorist organization of al-Qaeda has exploited their need for money and for the necessary products in order to convince them to join this organization. In fact, they have started to recruit children. Unfortunately, this phenomenon has increased day after day, because the terrorist organization of al-Qaeda has exploited some poor families in order to convince their children to join the organization that has pretended to work for the sake of religion. In fact, they have waged wars against the Yemeni security forces and people. Thus, Yemenis have been the only losers, because their children have been used as human shields in order to protect the terrorists.

  • shaher

    2011-8-25

    This only proves that Al-Qaeda has failed in all the states which they used as centers for their terrorist operations. It also proves that the Al-Qaeda organization is ready to do anything in order to achieve its own interest, even at the expense of others.

  • دينا اسعد

    2011-8-22

    The terrorist al-Qaeda groups in Yemen, and mainly in the province of Abyan, are using and recruiting Yemeni children in order to carry out their evil operations. They are just kids and are not suspected or draw attention, because they are just children. Therefore, al-Qaeda terrorist groups exploited young children and transformed them into monsters and used them as a tool to kill innocent people. Thus, al-Qaeda terrorist groups have exploited the innocence of young children. These groups are weak gangs, because they can’t carry out their dirty operations on their own, but instead they exploit children to carry out their cowardly terrorist operations to harm and kill people, and destroy Yemen, while taking advantage of the situation witnessed in Yemen. These criminals are hiding while recruiting young children, may God curse them. Even children are not safe from their evil, because their plans have become known to adult men and women. They used to deceive them with religion or lure them with money. In this way, they become trapped and can’t refuse to carry out their terrorist operations, because if they do, they will be killed or threatened. For this reason, we notice that they have resorted to using and exploiting children in order to carry out their cowardly operations. They are just targeting innocent Yemeni citizens’ lives, mainly in the southern province, which is Abyan in the state of Yemen.

  • اسامة

    2011-8-9

    I am Egyptian and I believe that this is prohibited.

  • امير الاحزان

    2011-8-9

    Very beautiful.