There's an item about this, surprisingly, in the Times today - "Martyrdom video aimed at children" - but as the Times is now behind a paywall there's not much point in linking.
An American organisation that tracks Islamic extremist websites has voiced concern over an internet video in which Palestinian child actors are shown being shot dead by other pre-schoolers dressed as Israeli soldiers - all of it backed by a catchy tune expounding the benefits of holy war.
Here's the video, with subtitles:
More details here:
"Birds of Paradise" represents a new wave in Jihadist youth indoctrination. It is far more professional, better edited, and presented in a much more kid-friendly style than previous Jihadist children's programming. The themes are easily digestible even for toddlers. Child actors portray Israeli soldiers, all wearing yarmulkes, who ruthlessly gun down other children shown playing and dancing. Minutes later, the kids exact revenge and kill the soldiers. [...]
The popularity of "Birds of Paradise" children's media company suggests a disturbing trend in the Muslim world. Beyond the borders of the Palestinian territories, which already exhibit the symptoms of a "martyrdom society," there is an increasing export of children's radicalism. Caution flags are being raised in Saudi Arabia, where journalist Fawzia Nasir al-Naeem wrote, "By Allah I have heard the children's songs which they have chanted on the Birds of Paradise screen, and our children have repeated them until my head felt numb."
Video via Solomon, who has more to say.
Tempering with the minds and hearts of children.
Posted by: Noga | June 26, 2010 at 02:55 AM