Among those children who have died in Syria recenly is Hamza Bakkour, a teenage boy from Homs. During the intense bombing and shelling that the neighbourhood of Bab Amr of Homs has seen last week, Hamza had his jaw blown off after a bullet that shot him exploded in his jaw. For 2 days, Hamza suffered before he was announced dead. May he rest in peace. Allah yerhamo, to the highest heaven Inshallah.The following video shows Hamza after his jaw blown off (EXTREMELY GRAPHIC VIDEO!):
I'm a 48 year-old British male, and I was traumatised by this story and video as soon as it started breaking and coming to my attention that horrible weekend in early February. I occasionally come back and search Hamza's name in order to verify the circumstances surrounding the poor boy's death in the hope that his suffering was somehow limited and that peaceful sleep came to him quickly. But I'm always desperately disappointed.
ReplyDeleteI cannot watch the video now - it almost forces me to the ground. To not see an expression of grief and pain other than through those desperately lost and tormented eyes is nothing short of haunting.
Very few countries and their "leaders", if any at all, don't have blood on their hands. But we know, poor Hamza's suffering only adds to the reality that these ghastly injuries must be inflicted on plenty of children and adults during every conflict - not least the disgusting war my nation raged, side-by-side with the US, against Iraq and those countries during their empirical peak.
Poor Hamza Zakaria Al Bakkour, and everyone like him throughout history who have suffered similarly, may he (and them) rest in peace.
Ian - You posted a heart-felt comment where we share the same sentiments on this. I just saw it posted on a friends facebook page who had randomly selected the video with no information, whatsover. The message was 'fake or real?'. Of course, I knew it was real and had to post a picture of Hamza so no jokes could be made and that they could associate it with a real human being. It would have been even more heart wrneching for some if his name was 'Philip Jacobs' or if you had a western sobbing mother behind him. It's a sad world we live in..
DeleteThat is so awful, I feel sick that that poor boy and the rest have gone through that....sends a shiver down a spine and gives me a horrible feeling watching that. so so sad! RIP xxx
ReplyDeleteIan, I thought the same as you, thinking that this poor child went through this and I can not begin to imagine the awful pain... Horrible pain, the fear of dying, uncertain of who could rescue him and tell him that everything was going to be alright and give him some strong sedative so he could die in peace. God have mercy!
ReplyDeleteI had see the image a few years ago, but I never connected it to this story. I am so horrified at seeing the destruction this war has caused to so many people. It's not worth it. It has destroyed the lives and livelihood of so many people... some who will probably never return home. I am so sorry that this war has dragged on for so long.
ReplyDeleteI am a music composition major in Ohio and I am writing a piece protesting the war in Syria. Videos and images like these burn themselves into my brain. I knew I wanted to write music about the war, but it wasn't until today that I have realized that I needed to write immediately. I hope that the message of my piece resonates with the audience the way that Hamza's story has put ice on my soul. Nobody deserves a life with this much suffering.
we still remember him to this day. you are not forgotten. from the pakistani american community
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