Nine killed in gun attack in Pakistani city of Quetta

[MADem]

Source: BBC News

At least nine people were killed when gunmen opened fire outside a mosque in the second attack in Quetta in south-west Pakistan in as many days.

About 20 others were wounded in the attack, which came as worshippers left the Sunni Muslim mosque after sunrise prayers for the Eid al-Fitr festival.
...

"When people came outside on the stairs, the terrorists were already present there," Mohammad Adnan, a witness, told the Associated Press news agency. "They started shooting and targeting many people. Two children were among the martyrs and around 20 people were injured."

No group has said it carried out the shooting, which took place near Quetta's eastern bypass....Quetta has seen a recent surge in sectarian violence, mostly targeting the Shia Muslim minority.



Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-23628545

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This is the third violent attack in the area this week.

[midnight]

1. This celebration sounds like our Christmas celebration with lights food, gifts and joy...

The first Eid al-Fitr was celebrated in 624 CE by the Prophet Muhammad and his companions after the victory of the battle of Jang-e-Badar.

To mark the beginning of Eid and in accordance with the Sunnah, or practices of the Prophet Muhammad, many Muslims wake up early in the morning and pray Salat ul-Fajr, or the pre-dawn prayer. After brushing their teeth, taking a bath and wearing perfume, they have breakfast before heading off to perform special congregational prayers known as Salaat al-Eid. Many Muslims recite the takbir, a declaration of faith, on the way to the prayer ground and give special charitable contributions known as Zakat al-Fitr.

Eid al-Fitr is a day of great merriment and thanksgiving. Muslims celebrate by gathering with friends and family, preparing sweet delicacies, wearing new clothes, giving each other gifts and putting up lights and other decorations in their homes. A common greeting during this holiday is Eid Mubarak, which means, “Have a blessed Eid!”

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/06/eid-al-fitr-2013_n_3708856.html

[MADem]

2. It's the end of Ramadan--no more starving all day, eating all night!

It is a good party....

[midnight]

3. It sure sounds that way.

[MADem]

4. For the observant it is--for the non-observant, they have to go home and hide while they eat/drink.

All this violence in Pakistan is unfortunate, though--this is supposed to be a happy time.

[Igel]

5. And at the same time, ideas of a "good time" vary.

Because of the occasion of the 1st such celebration and some other historical events, a lot of Islamist and Salafist sites proudly say that Ramadan is the month of jihad. It's especially good to die for Allah during this special time.

This makes for problems, because if you point that out a lot of liberal/moderate Muslims will be offended. If you don't, you're basically saying that you know to expect heightened levels of threats and possibly attacks but, hey, better to die than to give offense, right?

It's like having a Presbyterian be offended because a Catholic says you should follow the catechism. There's no big group identity "thing" going on these days to cause the wagons to be circled and everything that might be considered offensive judged as obligatorily offensive. Only flattering diversity is good. (Yes, that's two-way ambiguous; both interpretations work.)

The chatter out of Yemen/etc. probably wasn't coincidentally during Ramadan.

[MADem]

7. End of Ramadan, though, Eid, is supposed to be a happy time.

People who want to go on a killing spree do have a ready made crowd, though, because of the group prayer opportunities that happen as Eid gets underway.

Eid itself is one big party, even with conservatives. New clothes. Fresh start. Games and amusements for the kids, costumes, balloons, and enough food to make you sick. Gifts all round.

[cosmicone]

6. Pakistan is a lawless terrorist swamp

created by the Pakistani government. The terrorists were cultivated to commit acts in India but are now consuming their own.

If we stopped funding Pakistani military, it would stop.

[midnight]

8. You last sentence says it all.....