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Afghan Arab Martyrs' Graves Become Shrines
QUETTA, Jan. 21 (IslamOnline & News Agencies ) - The graves of the Arab fighters are rapidly attaining shrine-like status where hundreds of Kandaharis, who consider the dead warriors martyrs, pay regular visits to get their blessings, news agencies reported.
These Arab fighters, mostly killed during the U.S. bombing of Kandahar and its airport, were buried in Loya Wala graveyard in the main city by the people of surrounding villages.
While the dead bodies of the Arabs killed either during air strikes or with fighting with the forces loyal to Kandahar’s Governor, Gul Agha Sherazi, were handed over to the people living in the surrounding dwellings for burial.
"We received the dead bodies of 24 Arab martyrs (fighters) in pieces from the government forces who were killed in cruel U.S. bombing on airport, so they were buried in a collective grave", said Abdul Bari, who is the daily regular visitor of graves.
Abdul Manan, another visitor, after offering his prayer at the grave of Arabs said that these fighters were Shohada (martyrs) according to Islamic teachings and laid their lives for the cause of Islam while defending Afghan land against infidels.
He while pointing to two graves he said that children were not spared in the bombings and said that all the minors were buried in same grave while the mother was buried in the other.
There is a total of 74 graves of fighters, including a few Afghans, Pakistan online news service reported.
One of the graves belongs to an Arab injured fighter who committed suicide when surrounded by the security guards during an abortive attempt to flee. He was one of the seven who are still holed up with hand grenades and explosives in the prison ward of Mir Waiz hospital for the last five weeks.
The different colored flags and shawls were put on the graves by the faithful who visit in dozens after morning prayers and before evening payers. On Thursday evening hundreds flock to the graves to get blessed by distributing alms among the children and needy ones.
When the soldiers loyal to Sherazi realized the graves of Arabs might become popular among the people, they rooted out the flags and dismantled grave stones.
"The government forces know better that they could have not accomplished their nefarious designs in the presence of hundreds of followers during the day light and so they chose darkness to heart the public feelings," said Atta Mohammad.
Further, the provincial government also provoked public anger by leaving the dead body exposed on wet ground at the site of the incident for more than twenty hours, till the dead body which was frozen due to severe cold was handed to the people living around Loya Wala grave yard.
The anti-American feelings could be gauged from the fact that a team of western journalists considered working for U.S. forces was attacked and their vehicle damaged by pelting stones.
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