Comments | ontd_political: Qur'an etched in Saddam Hussein's blood poses dilemma for Iraq leaders

lafinjack in ontd_political

Qur'an etched in Saddam Hussein's blood poses dilemma for Iraq leaders

Dec 21, 2010 18:53

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iraq, religion, saddam hussein, not the onion, irl troll, islam, books, tmi

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but be sure to say "Klaatu Birata Nikto" before picking it up escherichiacola December 22 2010, 01:13:16 UTC

That's kinda of amazing in a really macabre way. Why would Saddam even do that? I just can't grasp any rational. He never struck me as particularly religious.

Re: but be sure to say "Klaatu Birata Nikto" before picking it up shellazure December 22 2010, 01:14:35 UTC

Well, yeah, but he obviously wanted to have a lasting legacy and that was one way to make him immortal in a way.

Re: but be sure to say "Klaatu Birata Nikto" before picking it up hotcoffeems December 22 2010, 01:15:48 UTC

The fact that it was inscribed in *his* blood pretty much tells you what his version of piety was...it's the act of a megalomaniac.

(The comment has been removed)

lafinjack December 22 2010, 07:31:05 UTC

Hmm, he didn't seem like the kind of guy who would do something like that.

Oh who am I kidding?

Re: but be sure to say "Klaatu Birata Nikto" before picking it up squeeful December 22 2010, 02:01:34 UTC

He's imposing himself on the religion. Making the book in his blood puts him on the same level -- or higher -- as the text itself.

Re: but be sure to say "Klaatu Birata Nikto" before picking it up tmlforsyth December 22 2010, 02:07:41 UTC

I recall he tried to make some claim that he was descended from Mohammed. He was religious when it was convenient for him to be. Such an artifact is a collector's item out of rarity and sheer creepiness.

Re: but be sure to say "Klaatu Birata Nikto" before picking it up hotcoffeems December 22 2010, 02:41:54 UTC

It is said he did get himself listed as a Sayyid (descendant of the Prophet, pbuh). To be named as one you have to get your lineage documented and approved; allegedly he more or less forced his way onto the list via threats to the committee of Ashrafs in Baghdad, and was taken from it three days after his capture. The thing I don't quite get is that IIRC, you have to get final official recognition from authorities in Saudi Arabia, so I don't know how that was achieved. My guess is it didn't go that far...

The king of Jordan is listed (officially!) as descendants of Muhammad (pbuh) -- it's a Hashemite dynasty. He's not just a Trekkie with a gorgeous wife :P

The political -- not just religious -- advantages of this to Saddam should be fairly obvious.

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