Gunmen storm schools in Baghdad, force students to leave classes

 

By Ahmad Naaeem

 

Azzaman, 2004-11-11

 

Many schools in Baghdad have brought down their shutters following threats by hooded gunmen roaming the streets of several areas in Baghdad.

 

Many parents and families have also stopped sending their children to school, citing security concerns.

 

The interim authorities have stepped up security in Baghdad since the start of the attack on Falluja.

 

School heads and teachers interviewed by Azzaman were too afraid to give their names.

 

“Unidentified gunmen stormed our school and wanted us to let the students go home and never come back for classes,” a secondary school teacher said.

 

The gunmen said they would kill us and blow up the school if classes were resumed, the teacher said.

 

“It is not only our school which the gunmen have threatened. Several other schools in our area have received similar threats,” the teacher added.

 

Another teacher said a group of gunmen wearing horrifying animal masks entered his school and forced the students to leave.

 

He said his panic-stricken students, on seeing the gunmen brandishing their weapons and shouting through their masks, rushed through their stairs and doors and many were injured in the stampede.

 

“I think most of them now suffer from psychological trauma. The presence of the gunmen in the school yard was a horrific scene that filled the students with fear,” the teacher said.

 

Another teacher said he feared the situation was getting out of control as the guards assigned to protect schools could not even defend themselves.

 

“These stray gangs want to put a halt to the development of the country to the progress of education. Their aim is to create as much chaos as possible,” the teacher said.

 

The teachers Azzaman interviewed asked the interim authorities to take “immediate and effective measures” to provide security for schools across the country.

 

The government must put an end to the hemorrhage of “our wounds” and prevent anyone from disturbing peace, they said.

 

Umer Salem says he has ordered his three children not to go to school.

 

“I received the news of gunmen storming their (children’s) school with shock. I have begun to fear for the safety of my children. These criminals have nor morals and no religion,” he said.

 

Aseel Abduljabar has also taken warnings by gunmen to kill school children and blow up school buildings seriously.

 

She says she has decided to keep her two children at home because “these criminals mean what they say and will commit heinous crimes such as blowing up school buildings.”