Taliban Behead Afghan Schoolmaster

(Zabul, Afghanistan) The Taliban is being blamed for beheading schoolmaster Malim Abdul Habib late Tuesday in southern Afghanistan. Habib was murdered in his home.

From Xinhua.com:

In the latest wave of violent attacks, the anti-government militants in Afghanistan beheaded a headmaster of a school in the country's southern Zabul province Tuesday night, director of provincial education department said Wednesday.

"Armed militants entered the house of the headmaster of the Shikh Mati Lycee in Zabul's provincial capital Qalat last night and brutally beheaded him in front of his children," Mohammad NabiKhoshal told Xinhua.

The attack is part of an overall campaign by the Taliban to target schools because they educate girls and teach boys subjects other than religion.

From Boston.com:

Four armed men stabbed Malim Abdul Habib, 45, eight times before decapitating him in the courtyard of his home in the town of Qalat late Tuesday, according to provincial government spokesman Ali Khail and a cousin of the victim, Dr. Esanullah.

Habib was slain after he refused to go with the militants to meet their commander, said Esanullah, who like many Afghans uses one name.

The assailants made Habib's wife and four sons and four daughters, ages 2 to 22, watch but did not hurt them physically, Khail said.

I need to be reminded why we must treat these thug murderers with tenderness.

Additional coverage: In The Bullpen