![Lebanese women mourn a male relative who died while fighting in Syria in the ranks of Hizbullah. [Photo courtesy of Ali al-Amin/Janoubia]](/cnmi_am/images/2016/11/04/6485-Lebanon-hizbullah-women-700_496.webp)
Hizbullah's involvement in the war in Syria, in addition to its other illicit activities, is costing Lebanon's Shia community the lives of its young men, stirring increasing resentment among women who lose their husbands and sons.
Ilham, who asked to use a pseudonym out of concern for her safety, said she lost her 24-year-old son a few months ago in the war in Syria.
She had dreams for him, she said -- that he would start his own business and get married -- but his insistence on fighting in Syria in the ranks of Hizbullah , against her will, turned her dreams into a nightmare.
Her son's death is a wound that will not heal, she told Al-Mashareq.
"I never imagined my son’s support of [Hizbullah] would turn into a commitment that would lead him to fight in Syria, and in a war that is not our war as Lebanese," she said.
"He worked and lived a normal life like his brothers and sisters until he shocked us with his commitment and our discovery that he was also committed militarily," she added.
"He served several tours [of duty] and always returned to us safe and sound, except this last time, when he was returned to us wrapped in a shroud," Ilham said. "We were showered with congratulations because he died a martyr."
"The fact of the matter is that I am a mother who lost her young son in a war that does not concern me," she said. "He went without my consent and was killed."
She is furious, but cannot publicly express her anger, she said. "I think many mothers who lost husbands and sons in the Syrian war feel the same way."
No compensation for life
Hizbullah officials "came visiting to congratulate us with words, and they gave us a sum of money as compensation, when all the money in the world cannot recompense me for my loss", Ilham said.
"They promised to help us and care for us, and we are waiting," she said. "I do not think we will receive more than we already have."
"I am not convinced of the reasons for his death or the death of our youth. When will the bleeding stop?" she asked.
Iran-backed Hizbullah "pushes young Shias to their deaths" , with wives and mothers left behind to mourn, Lebanese University assistant professor of psychology and human rights activist Mona Fayad told Al-Mashareq.
"When the number of dead in Syria grew high, the party stopped counting or reporting actual numbers," she said. "It now only announces the death of prominent and eminent members of the party, and silences the families of the poor with a sum of money."
The compensation offered to the bereaved families of those killed in Syria is not equal due to the corruption and discrimination within the party, said Fayad, a Shia, who has condemned Hizbullah’s involvement in the Syria war and its effects on the Shia community in Lebanon on more than one occasion.
Women who lose their husbands or sons are appeased with some money or an apartment, Fayad said, and some are pushed into temporary marriages.
A number of these women, mothers and wives, are upset "because they are forced to be silent and unable to express their anger out loud because they need the financial and economic support", she said.
Resentment among Shia
"Unease exists within Hizbullah’s base and among its supporters, whose husbands, fathers or sons are killed in Syria, and some of it is beginning to come out into the open," journalist Ibrahim Haidar, who writes for an-Nahar newspaper, told Al-Mashareq.
This resentment is generally expressed by the women, he said, the wives and mothers "who lose the dearest people to their hearts, who are irreplaceable".
"The party compensates them for their loss with money and services [based on a system that] discriminates between one person and another," he said.
"The party puts joining [Hizbullah] and involvement in the Syrian interior above any other consideration," he said. "And four years into its involvement in Syria, it stands a wide distance apart from the Lebanese people, who do not want to get involved or take part in a war that kills civilians on a daily basis."
Lebanese who reject Hizbullah’s intervention in Syria wonder about the point of this involvement, he added, as it is inflicting heavy losses on the party and causing youth to be killed daily.
"These questions are coming out in the open also within the Shia community," Haidar said.
May God’s curse be on the Rafida who claim to love the People of the House (Prophet’s family), those who belong to the Party of Devil, and those who support the mullas in Yemen and who are moved by Iran! They accuse Sunnis of kufr, insult the Prophet’s Companions, say Aisha is an adulteress, and they curse Omar bin al-Khattab. They claim to love al-Hassan and al-Hussein, although it was them who betrayed and killed him. Therefore, the entire nation, including its males and females, has known their mischief and hypocrisy. Their hypocrisy is great because they pretend to be Muslims although deep inside them they believe in something else. God will give victory to His religion! There is no power or might save in God!
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While we’re killing each other by our own hands, they sneak behind our backs and steal al-Quds. O, fools!
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Dear brothers, Rather than attack and accuse each other, look for the real enemy of the Arab and Muslim nation. I think you know him.
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Disagreements between Ali Abdullah Saleh and al-Houthis didn't happen by chance. Rumours have it that Ahmed Ali Abdullah Saleh would be appointed as president of Yemen, and he put one condition: to give his father immunity, and ensure that he wouldn't be considered as partner with al-Houthis. This is the source of disagreement and the deterioration that have taken place in Yemen. This is a winning card for Hamad and Ali to regain people's confidence in them. You can as of now consider that al-Houthis have been [gibberish]
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To hell and the worst fate because you kill peoples and the poor and ally with the Russians and Jews!
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Each woman who sends her son to the lost war in Syria will have him back in a coffin, God willing. The loss of Shiite is double: loss in this world and torture in the afterworld because of polytheism and kufr. The Shiite clerk al-Tufaili in Lebanon has said that those who fight against Muslims and die are infidels. Send your sons to Syria because there are coffins ready for them there.
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Addressing the Lebanese women: Were the Lebanese people the only ones who stood up against Israel, who was armed to the teeth, during the 33-day war? Had it not been for the help of their neighboring countries and other allies, would the people of Lebanon by themselves have survived in fight against Israel? If today we don't help the people of Iraq, Syria, and Yemen, will there be any guarantee that comes tomorrow, we won't be infected with the same plague? With whose support and weapons do the extremists, who do not have a shred of mercy, have been able to last this long? Now that they failed to reach their goal, they have no choice but to resort to saying such absurd nonsense. Why do you think the ISIL forces haven't even dared to even come to 50 kilometers from the borders with Iran? Because the brave Iranian warriors are always alert and ready. We are always ready to fight with those who cross the line. I proudly say that I'm a Haidari and a servant of the family of 'Ali (PBUH.)
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Hezbollah militias are destroying and killing young men under the pretext of some verses, martyrdom, etc. O, you rascals, your sons and men are dying, [gibberish], and wherever you go, you’ll be killed one after the other. You talk in the name of religion! None will say that thank God that Hezbollah has gone to Syria. They have nothing to do with this war. We’re not waiting for Hezbollah or anyone else to protect us; we’ll protect us ourselves in our own way at time of danger. We haven’t asked Hezbollah or anyone else to protect us. With the power of our strong army and with the people who are standing by its side, we’ll do anything. We don’t want weapons in Lebanon except for the legitimate weapons. O, you rascals and idiots, you’re sick in your minds!
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I used to get upset seeing such fratricides. This, however, is what Muslims deserve. Hence, I enjoy watching them murdering each other. When humans hand over the control of their wisdom and judgment to such religious evils, then it would better for them to be killed, and their wives and widows to be taken over by others.
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You’re seeing one of the women, if it was true. However, for the march to continue and for us to protect our country, blood has to be spilled and martyrs have to be offered.
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Ansar al-Alat in Yemen and Hezbollat in Lebanon are hysterical [gibberish].
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Al-Houthis, al-Afafsha, al-Qaeda, ISIL and Iran are allies. Saudi Arabia, the great Arab Coalition and the great people of Yemen are achieving victory against the gangs of Iran and the gangs of Sanhan in beloved Yemen. Saudi Arabia has achieved an amazing success, and has taken out thousands of gunmen of the Iranian Houthi militias and of the militias of the family of the ousted Ali Abdullah Saleh al-Sanhaniya. Saudi Arabia and the Arab Coalition, in co-operation with the legitimate Yemeni forces and the courageous popular Yemeni resistance, have cut the hands and legs of Iran in Yemen, and have turned large numbers of al-Houthis, al-Afafsha, ISIL and al-Qaeda into body parts.
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The mere fact that this journalist is working for al-Nahar newspaper, this means that his opinion will be biased for his newspaper. No reasonable person will accept this. They’re all men and they have their own decisions; neither mothers nor wives can influence their decisions, nor can Hezbollah. These are their convictions, and all that we should be saying is that they have chosen martyrdom. I’d like to thank them because they protected’ve Lebanon’s Christians and Sunnis before their own sect.
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This is a lie. The example of those mujahedeen is al-Hussain, and the example of their wives and mothers is Zainab. Whoever writes these words is blind to truth, and writes for money. Hadn’t it been for the courage of those martyrs, your honour would have been in the hands of ISIL and Nusra. However, hatred has blinded you; Gulf money for you is more precious than your own honour. Come to our society; we’re proud of our martyrs and we’re all martyrs. Read the al-Hussain’s biography. The lesson of al-Hussain’s jihad is enough for you, o, you idiots, lust-seekers!
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You live to the illusion of Mullas so they can have money and pleasures, and so those who lose a dear person may be in pain and sadness. The proof of that is that the Mullas don’t go to fighting and leave behind all the money and convenient life. No way. Therefore, they send your sons to be the cannon fodder of this war, and they are the only ones benefiting from this. Wake up and look for the true religion so you may not lose both this world and the afterlife.
ReplyThe truest response is the facts I've explained.
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Al-Salamu Alikum. The issue is bigger than Shias and Sunnis. Killing will only serve the Jews who convinced the Shias to be hostile to Sunnis and convinced the Sunnis likewise. Therefore, any young man who dies on each side will only serve Israel. If there had been religious understanding, this wouldn’t have taken place. How many orphans, widows, people in pain there are just for the Jews to live?!!!
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I won’t comment much, but I’ll just say that hadn’t it been for the martyrs, all women in Lebanon would have been sold at markets. The second thing is if a young man dies in an accident or because of a problem, you’ll say that this is fate. However, if he becomes a martyr, you’ll say that Hezbollah sent him. You have sick minds. Brother of a martyr in the sacred defence of Zainab.
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A group of liars and imposters hiding behind the slogans of fighting against terrorism while they are the most sectarian people. They’re working for an Iranian project, and they don’t have any loyalty to Muslims, Lebanon or Arabs. Enough with your lies and hypocrisy!
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I can say that you’re a liar, as martyrs’ mothers are not like this. Hezbollah doesn’t force anyone to fight. You can say that we’re defending Lebanon and the streets of the south, because hadn’t it been for the preemptive war in Syria, the martyrs’ families would have been captives in the hands of those despicable emirs.
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She isn’t necessarily a mother of martyr who is saying this, brothers and sisters. There is media deception now. Hadn’t it been for that sincere group, and hadn’t it been for those martyrs and widows who you’re talking about, you would have become victim of bereavement and captivity. You don’t want us to have honour in this country. The biggest example is Syria, Iraq and Yemen. Do you want that shame, killing and displacement? Hadn’t it been for this preemptive step to protect this country, we would have been executed together at the doors of churches and mosques. O, Lord, please don’t blame us for what the fools among us have done! Words aren’t enough. Thanks
ReplyWhoever kills his compatriots and people of his own ethnic group is an ignorant person who humiliated politicians drive to a strange, suspicious regime!! The Arab world is for Arabs, even if after 1 million years.
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Unfortunately, the Shias' minds are not functioning and are manipulated by those who wear turbans like Zamira
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Have you seen the news? I’d like to say to the martyr’s mother [gibberish] in Karbala while you’re crying. Hezbollah is in Syria, but if your son and others don’t go to fight in Syria, Allah only knows how you will be like. You still need a lot to know why Hezbollah is in Syria. May Allah grant patience to every mother and wife who has a martyr. You have honour. Thanks.
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The mothers of martyrs are the purest and most honourable women on earth. They are proud of their children who are sacrificing their lives in defence of honour, land, beliefs and sanctities. What is attributed to them is a lie and defamation, and if this shows anything, it shows the defeat of those who come up with these trivial matters.
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[Illegible] with your words! We’re Shias and we die for the sake of the yellow flag! Why are you sad?!
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Pffffff!!! Where are you? Why are you so late? You need a lot to understand why Hezbollah is fighting in Syria, or you know what, there’s no need for you to understand because you’re just a tool in the hands of Israel, and the tool has no right to think. Why should you think?! Take it easy; the Israelis are thinking on your behalf. The martyrs, mothers, wives and children of martyrs are too great to get down to your low level! What does gold have to do with dust?!!!
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First of all, Hezbollah is not sending its young people to war in Syria before first obtaining an authorisation signed by their legal guardians. Secondly, she said above, Quote, “… she confirmed that the killing of her son,” unquote, he is supposed to be called a ‘martyr’. If you had honour and morals, you would understand.
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Lies! Don't tell this much lies! Hezbollah is fighting to defend the honor of Muslims and Shi'as. It is about neither Syria nor Lebanon; rather, it is about defending the oppressed ones. Haven't you read the Qur'an? A Muslim who hears and yet ignores another Muslim's cry for help does not consider to be a Muslim. You pretend that there is no Iranian "Protector of Haram" (Protector of the Shrine) forces in Syria. Weren't the Iranian youth martyred in Syria? How about Afghan youth? or Pakistani? There, everyone is protecting the sanctity of Islam and Muslims, as well as of the Household of Prophet. It is a naive statement to say that the Syrian war is solely relevant to Syria.
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Mona Faidh, a disabled person.
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[Gibberish] You’re liars. You, donkeys, we send our men to Syria and we know where they go; they’re going there to support Muhammad and the family of Muhammad. We know they will return as martyrs, and we’re very proud of them. We don’t care about the world. They will certainly go to paradise. The most important thing is that you can eat your heart out. Hezbollah is crushing you!
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Hezbollah didn't force her to send her son to fight.
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If you’re confident of what you’re saying, just say who the martyr is. This is because I don’t think that the mothers of martyrs have time for your silliness.
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Why don’t people want to understand that it was our faith that forced us to fight in Syria? Hezbollah is a military, religious party, and any Shia who criticises this is not a Shia, even if was she was the mother of a martyr. Good bye.
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May Allah damn you! Regardless of how much you distort the picture, we will continue to sacrifice our souls under this holy yellow flag.
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This is nothing imagination and dreams! These are daydreams!
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First, this is unsupported talk. This is too much talking by the hostile media that is [Illegible] with the martyrs’ blood. They have [Illegible] the war and the injustice that could have overtaken Lebanon. Samir Geagea has said under the table, “Thank God that the Party has gone to Syria, otherwise we could have been slaughtered if they had reached us.” However, he is not brave enough to say that in public. They are …
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We shall continue to comply with the orders of resistance leaders. We shall continue to fight terrorism in Syria and beyond Syria. We shall, very proudly, declare our martyrs everyday. I say to all the newspapers that are inciting commotion and divisions between Hezbollah and Shias that you’re like the one who is filling a broken jug with water.
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Enough with your lies and prostitution!
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May Allah help the Shia! In Lebanon, there are unemployed young people who are loyal to the party. [Gibberish] if a certain job was not available to them, they would resort to the party.
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