Islam's Gender Equality: Al Qaeda, Palestinian Female Suicide Bombers

Two reports: Phyllis Chesler, "Al Qaeda Tells Women to Be Suicide Bombers":

I was just about to shut my computer down when I realized that there are two pieces of breaking news that I have to share with you.

First, according to NBC and ABC journalist Mark Schone, “Zawahiri’s Wife Releases Statement, Tells Women They Can Be Suicide Bombers.”

What’s this? The twisted triumph of feminism, Islamist-style? Why is Zawahiri allowing one of his four (or more) wives to take such an active public role?

Omaima Hassan first tells women that their primary role is that of bearing and breeding a jihadic fighter’s sons. She counsels women to support jihad by keeping the warrior’s secrets and his home, and by wearing hijab. She also disapproves of women going out without a male escort or guide. But then, in an unconfirmed report, she goes further. According to Schone:

“Hassan also suggests that women can become suicide bombers, which she refers to as ‘martyrdom missions.’”

This is certainly different from what her husband said in 2008, in a “two-hour recorded interview posted on a web site.” Zawahiri, who is believed to be in Pakistan, insisted “that Al Qaeda did not have women members, and that the role of women in jihad was limited to taking care of the children of fighters and maintaining their homes.”

One conclusion: Watch out for suicide bombers wearing burqas.

I'll say.

See this second report, a video from Islamization Watch, "Sheik Tells Children the Story of Palestinian Female Suicide Bomber Wafa Idris":