Conventional Muslim Thought on Raping Prisoners

In a question and answer column in the Arab News, the subject of having sex with prisoners of war is discussed. One reader relates that elderly Muslim men have spoken enthusiastically of sex with prisoners of war. Here's an excerpt of the scholarly answer.

The reader raises the possibility of reciprocal treatment, and asks how would Muslims react to American soldiers practicing this ghastly crime in Iraq and Afghanistan. Well, American soldiers have been practicing terrible atrocities in both countries, as well as at Guantanamo and in many other countries, while the American president refused to endorse the creation of an international court to try those who are accused of committing war crimes. His reason is that under the treaty, American soldiers might have to face such trials.

He wants those guilty of war atrocities to remain immune. The photos that were published about the treatment of Iraqi prisoners in the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq show more than rape.

It appears that the conventional thinking among Muslims is that Americans are regularly having sex with prisoners in Iraq and Afghanistan and committing "other atrocities," whatever that means. However, thanks to the mainstream media, I have repeatedly seen photos of the exceedingly dumb and irresponsible practices employed at Abu Ghraib, including the use of dogs, mock executions, and humiliation but I don't recall any evidence of sex with prisoners nor "other atrocities."

I also recall that the military has investigated the incidents and prosecuted offenders. To my knowledge, no one has been granted immunity. With regard to "other atrocities," I know of no instances of eyes being gouged out, hands being lopped off, nor beheadings.

Nonetheless, the generally-accepted beliefs of the followers of the religion of peace are considerably distorted from what the actual evidence has shown regarding Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo. And, the MSM should get most of the credit for fostering the misconceptions. After all, the MSM have Muslims believing that a Koran can be flushed down the toilet. My experience has been that a large wad of toilet paper has trouble being flushed. Of course, I've never seen a magic toilet.

In a nutshell, not only have the MSM been able to get Muslims to believe in magic toilets, they have also enabled them to adopt the erroneous belief that the American military regularly rapes prisoners of war.

Companion post at The Jawa Report.