Real Jihad - 15yr old gives up his life to save school
Tributes have been pouring in for a Pakistani teenager who was killed on Monday when he tackled a suicide bomber targeting his school in the Hangu area.
Aitzaz Hasan, 15, was with friends outside school when they spotted a man wearing a suicide vest.
Despite the pleas of his fellow students, he decided to confront and capture the bomber who then detonated his vest, his cousin told the BBC.
Aitzaz is being hailed as a hero in an outpouring of praise on social media.
There have even been calls for him to receive the army's highest honour awarded to those who have sacrificed their life for their country, though it is unclear if he would be qualified to receive it as a civilian.
"We the citizens believe that State of Pk must award Nishan-i-Haider to Pk's brave son Shaheed Aitezaz," journalist Nasim Zehra tweeted on Thursday.
Confrontation
The incident took place on Monday in Ibrahimzai, a Shia-dominated region of Hangu, in north-western Pakistan. There were almost 2,000 students in attendance at the time of the attack, media reports say.
"My cousin sacrificed his life saving his school and hundreds of students and school fellows," his cousin Mudassar Hassan Bangish told the BBC's Aleem Maqbool.
"The suicide bomber wanted to destroy the school and school students. It was my cousin who stopped him from this...destruction."
Pakistani security personnel examine the site of a suicide bombing in the Ibrahimzai area of Hangu district on January 6, 2014.
There were said to be about 2,000 students at Aitzaz's school at the time of the attack
He then described the sequence of events as related to him by witnesses at the school.
Aitzaz's friends had urged him not to confront the suicide bomber but he ignored their pleas and decided to confront the man with the intention of halting him.
"So he told them 'I'm going to stop him. He is going to school to kill my friends'. He wanted to capture this suicide bomber. He wanted to stop [him]. Meanwhile the suicide bomber blasted himself which resulted in the death of my cousin," Mr Bangish said.
He described Aitzaz as "brave" and a good student. "He always used to say 'I am always ready for my country'."
His family insist that rather than focus on the sorrow brought about by his death, they want to focus on their pride in his actions.
"He is a shahid [martyr]. A shahid of his whole nation," he said.
Continue reading the main story
Aitzaz's death: Twitter reaction
Hundreds of users have been tweeting the story of Pakistan's fallen teenager.
"Aitzaz Hasan, 15 years old, gave his life to stop a suicide bomber in Pakistan. A reminder to us all what real courage is. RIP, brave soul," writer and journalist Omer Aziz tweeted on Thursday.
"From #Malala to #Aitzaz Irum young people paving the way for Jinnah's #Pakistan with their blood. #onemillionaitzazs," blogger Murtaza Solangi tweeted.
Government officials have not yet visited the school or Aitzaz's family, prompting requests from Twitter users that they do so. Politicians and public figures also added to the chorus of praise for Aitzaz.
His family have also spoken of Aitzaz's actions in Pakistan's Express Tribune newspaper.
"My son made his mother cry, but saved hundreds of mothers from crying for their children," Mujahid Ali, Aitzaz's father is quoted as saying.
Sectarian violence
According to Mr Bangish, people in the area would like to see the government give Aitzaz an award to recognise his bravery, and compared him with celebrated Pakistani education campaigner Malala Yousafzai - a comparison being echoed across social media.
On Twitter, users are paying tribute to Aitzaz using the hashtags #onemillionaitzaz and #AitzazBraveheart echoing the language used online around figures such as Malala and the Delhi rape victim, whose death galvanised Indian public opinion and prompted changes in rape laws there.
Former Pakistani ambassador to the US Sherry Rehman tweeted: "Hangu's shaheed Aitzaz Hasan is #Pakistan's pride. Give him a medal at least. Another young one with heartstopping courage #AitzazBraveheart."
Hangu is close to Pakistan's semi-autonomous tribal regions, which have a strong Taliban and al-Qaeda presence and the area is also known for sectarian violence against Shia Muslims.
Mr Bangish said the region's residents are "patriotic people" but have to contend with difficult conditions.
He he added that in order to cope with such conditions and tackle the "fights and blast ... needs courage like Aitzaz has. We salute his bravery".
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-25663992
EDIT: I thought I should add this reply to someone accusing me of religious propaganda on the OP-
'm not telling you to become a jihadi, I am only redefining the incorrect definition of jihad which many people on here will have.
Aitzaz Hasan, 15, was with friends outside school when they spotted a man wearing a suicide vest.
Despite the pleas of his fellow students, he decided to confront and capture the bomber who then detonated his vest, his cousin told the BBC.
Aitzaz is being hailed as a hero in an outpouring of praise on social media.
There have even been calls for him to receive the army's highest honour awarded to those who have sacrificed their life for their country, though it is unclear if he would be qualified to receive it as a civilian.
"We the citizens believe that State of Pk must award Nishan-i-Haider to Pk's brave son Shaheed Aitezaz," journalist Nasim Zehra tweeted on Thursday.
Confrontation
The incident took place on Monday in Ibrahimzai, a Shia-dominated region of Hangu, in north-western Pakistan. There were almost 2,000 students in attendance at the time of the attack, media reports say.
"My cousin sacrificed his life saving his school and hundreds of students and school fellows," his cousin Mudassar Hassan Bangish told the BBC's Aleem Maqbool.
"The suicide bomber wanted to destroy the school and school students. It was my cousin who stopped him from this...destruction."
Pakistani security personnel examine the site of a suicide bombing in the Ibrahimzai area of Hangu district on January 6, 2014.
There were said to be about 2,000 students at Aitzaz's school at the time of the attack
He then described the sequence of events as related to him by witnesses at the school.
Aitzaz's friends had urged him not to confront the suicide bomber but he ignored their pleas and decided to confront the man with the intention of halting him.
"So he told them 'I'm going to stop him. He is going to school to kill my friends'. He wanted to capture this suicide bomber. He wanted to stop [him]. Meanwhile the suicide bomber blasted himself which resulted in the death of my cousin," Mr Bangish said.
He described Aitzaz as "brave" and a good student. "He always used to say 'I am always ready for my country'."
His family insist that rather than focus on the sorrow brought about by his death, they want to focus on their pride in his actions.
"He is a shahid [martyr]. A shahid of his whole nation," he said.
Continue reading the main story
Aitzaz's death: Twitter reaction
Hundreds of users have been tweeting the story of Pakistan's fallen teenager.
"Aitzaz Hasan, 15 years old, gave his life to stop a suicide bomber in Pakistan. A reminder to us all what real courage is. RIP, brave soul," writer and journalist Omer Aziz tweeted on Thursday.
"From #Malala to #Aitzaz Irum young people paving the way for Jinnah's #Pakistan with their blood. #onemillionaitzazs," blogger Murtaza Solangi tweeted.
Government officials have not yet visited the school or Aitzaz's family, prompting requests from Twitter users that they do so. Politicians and public figures also added to the chorus of praise for Aitzaz.
His family have also spoken of Aitzaz's actions in Pakistan's Express Tribune newspaper.
"My son made his mother cry, but saved hundreds of mothers from crying for their children," Mujahid Ali, Aitzaz's father is quoted as saying.
Sectarian violence
According to Mr Bangish, people in the area would like to see the government give Aitzaz an award to recognise his bravery, and compared him with celebrated Pakistani education campaigner Malala Yousafzai - a comparison being echoed across social media.
On Twitter, users are paying tribute to Aitzaz using the hashtags #onemillionaitzaz and #AitzazBraveheart echoing the language used online around figures such as Malala and the Delhi rape victim, whose death galvanised Indian public opinion and prompted changes in rape laws there.
Former Pakistani ambassador to the US Sherry Rehman tweeted: "Hangu's shaheed Aitzaz Hasan is #Pakistan's pride. Give him a medal at least. Another young one with heartstopping courage #AitzazBraveheart."
Hangu is close to Pakistan's semi-autonomous tribal regions, which have a strong Taliban and al-Qaeda presence and the area is also known for sectarian violence against Shia Muslims.
Mr Bangish said the region's residents are "patriotic people" but have to contend with difficult conditions.
He he added that in order to cope with such conditions and tackle the "fights and blast ... needs courage like Aitzaz has. We salute his bravery".
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-25663992
EDIT: I thought I should add this reply to someone accusing me of religious propaganda on the OP-
'm not telling you to become a jihadi, I am only redefining the incorrect definition of jihad which many people on here will have.
(edited 10 years ago)
Scroll to see replies
I can't say I know much about the Shia/Sunni conflict in Pakistan but I read this article earlier and it brought a tear to my eye. Truly sad and brave in equal measure. Maybe a story this heartbreaking can help stop the conflict. I don't know reasons for the conflict but surely human nature and compassion overrides anything here and the groups can at least sort some form of informal ceasefire.
sad story of what indoctrination can do to the human mind, going to blow yourself up at a school. sad also that this kid had to die to stop it, but then 7 different countries armies are in the afgan/pakistan region to also put a stop to similar islamist terrorists, so really they are all jihadis too
It has nothing to do with Jihad.
He was a normal human that gave his life up for the people he knew.
People do it for complete strangers.
Quite revolting how people like you are more than happy to exploit the death of an innocent for your religion .
He was a normal human that gave his life up for the people he knew.
People do it for complete strangers.
Quite revolting how people like you are more than happy to exploit the death of an innocent for your religion .
(edited 10 years ago)
Original post by DorianGrayism
It has nothing to do with Jihad.
He was a normal human that gave his life up for the people he knew.
People do it for complete strangers.
Quite revolting how people like you are more than happy to exploit the death of an innocent for your religion .
He was a normal human that gave his life up for the people he knew.
People do it for complete strangers.
Quite revolting how people like you are more than happy to exploit the death of an innocent for your religion .
This is jihad. Not whatever view of jihad you must have which contradicts this action. Those who do such things for strangers are also taking part in jihad.
Original post by Basiji
Shia' dominated region. The kid was probably a Shia'. May Allah(swt) grant him eternal paradise regardless. Amazing courage to do what he did.
Live like Mohammad, fight like Ali, die like Hossein.
Live like Mohammad, fight like Ali, die like Hossein.
mohammed ali lost the title three times. there are better fighters to emulate
(edited 10 years ago)
Original post by Tpos
This is jihad. Not whatever view of jihad you must have which contradicts this action. Those who do such things for strangers are also taking part in jihad.
That is ridiculous. That would mean British soldiers are now taking part in Jihad when they put their lives at risk.
As I said before....nothing but shameless exploitation of a young boys death.
I don't think it helps that he's being compared to Malala, and the nationalistic hype makes me cringe.
(edited 10 years ago)
Original post by darkface.
mohammed ali lost the title three times. there are better fighters to emulate
He's talking about Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) son in law. The fourth caliph for Sunni and first for shias.
Original post by DorianGrayism
That is ridiculous. That would mean British soldiers are now taking part in Jihad when they put their lives at risk.
As I said before....nothing but shameless exploitation of a young boys death.
As I said before....nothing but shameless exploitation of a young boys death.
The individual has to be a Muslim and not fighting in an unjust war.
For your information there are two types of jihad.
There are two types of jihad. Greater jihad which is a battle of the nafs, the "lower self" and the smaller jihad which is to fight in a war which meets the criteria of a fighting for the sake of Allah.
Original post by Tpos
The individual has to be a Muslim ..... which meets the criteria of a fighting for the sake of Allah.
So that means people that commit their lives for strangers are not engaged in jihad.
Which was my first point.
Original post by DorianGrayism
So that means people that commit their lives for strangers are not engaged in jihad.
Which was my first point.
Which was my first point.
If they are Muslims then they would be.
Original post by Tpos
If they are Muslims then they would be.
Which wasn't my point .
Original post by DorianGrayism
That is ridiculous. That would mean British soldiers are now taking part in Jihad when they put their lives at risk.
.
.
What a true hero. May Allah elevate his status and bless him.
This is certainly something to aspire towards (the amount of courage).
Posted from TSR Mobile
This is certainly something to aspire towards (the amount of courage).
Posted from TSR Mobile
Original post by darkface.
this is the point I made earlier that completly sailed over your head
Oh sorry.
Misread it.
Late at night and lack of punctuation.
Apologies.
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