Jihad and Slavery TODAY

[Kendra17]

I recently read Francis Bok's Escape from Slavery: The true story of my ten years in captivity and my journey to freedom in America. After a recent and brief exchange regarding the horrors of slavery right here on the DIS, I wanted to share this book with you and thought that maybe it deserved it's own thread--since, as you probably know, Slavery is still occurring in Sudan (a practice legally permitted in Islam and practiced by some Muslims).

This is from the inside cover:

In this groundbreaking modern slave narrative, Francis Bok shared his remarkable story with grace, honesty, and a wisdom gained from surviving ten years in captivity.

May 1986: Seven year-old Francis Bok was selling his mother's eggs and peanuts near his village in southern Sudan when his life was suddently shattered as Arab raiders on horseback, armed with rifles and long kineves, burst into the quiet marketplace, murdering men and gathering the women and young children into a group. Strapped to horses and donkeys, Francis and others were taken north into lives of slavery under wealthy Muslim farmers.

For ten years, Francis lived alone in a shed near the goats and cattle that were his responsiblity. Fed with scrapss from the table, slowly learning bits of an unfamiliar language and religion, the boy had almost no human contact other than with his captor's family. After two failed attempts to flee--each bringing severe beatings and dealth threats--Francis finally escaped at age seventeen, a dramatic breakaway on foot that was his final chance. Yet his slavery did not end there, for even as he made his way toward the capital city of Khartoum, others sought to deprive him of his freedom. Determined to avoid that fate and discover what had happened to his family on that terrible day in 1986, the teenager persevered through prison and refugee camps for three more years, finally being granted passage to America.

Anyways, I thought his story worth sharing, and wanted to link some sites that give more information regarding the slavery and genocide being committed by the Islamic Jihadist Arabs there against indigenous Muslims, Christians, and animists, The United States Congress' condemnation of this, and the UN's appalling inaction regarding these events.

http://hrw.org/english/docs/2004/07/29/darfur9167.htm

http://www.iabolish.com/darfur/press-release.htm

http://www.iabolish.com/news/AASG news/press releases/sudan_campaign-07-23-04.htm

http://www.boston.com/news/globe/ed...articles/2004/06/10/annans_dishonor_in_sudan/

http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1571/is_26_17/ai_76698289

 

[Belle041281]

How naive I am! I had no idea slavery was still legal in some areas. Thank you for opening my eyes.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

Slavery , sadly, still does occur in Sudan (I don't understand why the atrocities that take place in Sudan are not talked about more in the media) and I'm sure illegally in many other places. There are some cultures where men feel that they "own" their wives. I recall a case a few years ago where a woman from another country (I forget which) was literally being held and treated as a slave in the US by her husband and she finally got away.

I forget where I read this, it was seriously over a year ago but if anyone has the link...

 

[Kendra17]

The news page on the www.iabolish.com site has lots of stories regarding this--as does http://hrw.org/doc/?t=united_nations.

I wonder why it's not talked about too much, either. It is sometimes refered to as the Sudanese Civil War, but the Jihadist element (that is the creation of an Sudanese Islamic State) is often ignored by the media.

 

[IMGONNABE40!]

I think I saw this guy on a morning show type program when the book first came out and thought I would like to buy it for my son. He will be 12 in a couple of weeks. Do you think it is appropriate for an adolescent? Maybe we should read it together.

 

[DawnCt1]

I remember a few years ago when a Saudi princess, there are a lot of them, abused her maid in Florida. Apparently she was on an extended visit. The maid, understanding that this is America was able to contact authorities.

 

[Kendra17]

imgonnabe40, I thought it would be appropriate for someone younger. . .my daughter's 12, and I recommended it to her, but she has no interest--so far. . .she wanted to hear about it, and asked lots of questions, but she hasn't wanted to open the book. I think the situation and his story, though, is something even 12 year olds should be aware of.

It's definitely written in a way he'd be able to understand. Half of it is his horrible story in Sudan, and the other half is him adjusting to life in America, and getting involved with the anti-slavery group, iabolish.

I read a series of books written by a Saudi Princess anonymously with author Jean Sasson. The first one, and the only one of the three I'd really recommend was called Princess: A True Story of Life Behind the Veil in Saudi Arabia.

This one was a first-hand account of her life in this misogynistic society, and how she, personally, wanted reform. She wrote it anonymously, but her identity was discovered somewhere in book 2 or book 3. She's still safe, there, i guess, but it was a very interesting book. Not surprisingly, the Princess was very anti-semitic and anti-Israel (just a few comments she made reflected this), so it was disturbing to me that I found myself having empathy for her life and the existence she led, even though she was so obviously biased, herself. The reason I brought this book up is that she discussed instance after instance where abuse occurred. Since she is a member of the Royal Family, she observed many instances of abuse towards maids (physical and sexual). She also talked about slavery, too. Although formally illegal in Saudi Arabia (I think), it still goes on somewhat frequently, according to the author.