Christian Activist Killed in Gaza

[question everything]

Source: AP

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) — A prominent Palestinian Christian activist was found dead on a Gaza City street Sunday, sending a shudder of fear through a tiny Christian community feeling increasingly insecure since the Islamic Hamas seized control last summer.

The body of Rami Khader Ayyad, the 32-year-old director of Gaza's only Christian bookstore, bore a visible gunshot wound to the head, and an official at Gaza's Shifa Hospital said he was also stabbed numerous times. Ayyad had been missing since Saturday afternoon.

Ayyad regularly received anonymous death threats from angry people who accused him of missionary work, a rarity among Gaza's Christians. His store, which is associated with a Christian group called the Palestinian Bible Society, was firebombed in April.

(snip)

Ismail Haniyeh, prime minister of Gaza's Hamas government, expressed "great sadness" over Ayyad's death and said he ordered an investigation.



Read more: http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hvmzkvhaaaF_wnZnVdk2Gqy8ATnAD8S4MSD80

[monktonman]

1. They probably got tired of being yelled at,

talked down to and threatened with hellfire if they didnt convert.

[rudeboy666]

2. Well, I'll rather be yelled at than being shot!

[Rage for Order]

3. Where was that referenced in the article?

I must've missed that part. Even if we assume what you say to be true, which I seriously doubt, do you think murder is an appropriate response to "being yelled at, talked down to and threatened with hellfire if they didn't convert"?

[Lydia Leftcoast]

4. Palestinian Christians are mostly Eastern Orthodox

They have a totally different approach than the fundies.

Another example of an uninformed DUer conflating all Christians with fundies.

[monktonman]

5. sorry, just making a sick joke.

I suppose I deserve to have my ass burned.
The words "Christian activist" always puts one image in my head. Fundy.
Thats what I was commenting on.
Again, just a sick joke.

[Divine Discontent]

7. ok ok.. you're off the hook. a sick joke nonetheless.

I know, I'm like you, I hear Christian activist and typically think negatively, which upsets me, because I'm Christian, but I am so disgusted with these wackjob types who are so cruel in their words and attempts to belittle others. This does nothing to help the non believer realize that CHRIST died for all of our sins. Regardless, I do not know of this man's dealings, and I am saddened to hear he was shot apparently just for being a prominent Christian in the area.

[monktonman]

11. I'd like to know how one becomes a "prominent" christian.

Seems to me there are plenty of christians all over the world living in the most unlikely of places
yet they arent murdered.
I may be wrong but my logic says you become a well known christian by proselytizing, no?

[cigsandcoffee]

12. Proselytizing or not, shooting him in the head was unwarranted.

To say the least.

It almost looks like you're trying to come up with excuses for the shooter.

[Divine Discontent]

13. thank you, it sure sounds that way, as if him speaking of his faith was worthy of murder n/t

[laconicsax]

6. Stupid question...

...bore a visible gunshot wound to the head...

is there such a thing as an invisible gunshot wound to the head?

[ContraBass Black]

8. It could be covered by hair.

[INDIA]

9. Quick! Everybody make sure not to denounce the shooter!

Or the religious extremism that probably caused the shooting. Lets just make tasteless, and UNFUNNY jokes instead. If the roles were reversed this post would be flaming. Disgusting hypocrisy. Good job DU. You never cease to amaze me.

[Xenotime]

10. Are we too sensitive?

[leftynyc]

14. I understand what you're saying

The way some people here bend over backwards to excuse Muslim extremists and blame everything except the religion itself is pathetic. If it had been a Christian, there would be 400 posts condeming the action.

[INDIA]

15. Bingo.

And it all goes back to who votes for Booooosh. Christians do, Muslims don't. Therefore, Christians = Bad, Muslims =Free Pass.

This place is a friggin circus sideshow.