Abd el-Kader
August 7th, 2010
Abd el-Kader and the Massacre of Damascus.: A great article by a sport writer who happens to be the great-great grandson of Abd el-Kader. el-Kader was an Algerian Muslim who fought the French occupation in the late 19th century, and became a legend for it.
He was eventually captured, but not killed for fear of creating a martyr. He was resettled in France for several years, then eventually moved to Damascus, Syria. It was there that he saved thousands of Christians from an angry mob in July 1860 by sheltering them in his own home, and refusing to hand them over.
“Give us the Christians,” the crowd shouted after he had quieted it by his silent presence.
“My brothers, your behavior violates the law of God. What makes you think you have a right to go around killing innocent people? Have you sunk so low that you are slaughtering women and children? Didn’t God say in our holy book, Whoever kills a man who has never committed murder or created disorder in the land will be regarded as a murderer of all humanity?”
A brave man, and a fine human being. Trivia: the city of Elkader, Iowa is named after him.
It’s a long article, but reads quickly. Absolutely worth your time.