Scepticism over Syria sexual favours

Sep 20

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Scepticism over Syria sexual favours

Netizens question Tunisian minister's reports of women being trafficked.

Tunisian Interior Minister Lotfi Ben Jeddou. (EPA/MOHAMED MESSARA)

Netizens are casting doubt over recent statements from Tunisia's interior minister, who said Tunisian women are being used for sexual favours by fighters in Syria.

In a meeting with the National Constituent Assembly Thursday, Lofti ben Jeddou reportedly told MPs that women are being trafficked to Syria and returning home pregnant.

Ben Jeddou added that the women "have sexual relations with 20, 30, 100" fighters, and said it is done in the name of jihad al-nikah or "jihad marriage" - though there was no apparent religious leader calling for the practice."Jihad marriage" has been attributed to renowned Saudi Sheikh al-Arifi, who later denied those links.

View the story "Scepticism over Syria sexual favours" on StorifyScepticism over Syria sexual favoursNetizens question Tunisian minister's reports of women being trafficked.Storified by The Stream· Fri, Sep 20 2013 13:23:47Below is his address in Arabic to the National Constituent Assembly. تونسيات يعدن إلى بلادهن حوامل بعد "جهاد النكاح" في سورياsouriassad9Several people tweeted their disbelief at the statements made, and according to the website Tunisia Live there has been little evidence proving the trafficking of Tunisian women.

Translation @Azo_sha: I don't know if this is true... and if it is true, than it is shame and a moral exploitation in the name of religious inaccuracy. I repeat, I don't know if this is true.

#جهاد_النكاح لا أعلم حقيقته .. وإن صح فهو عهر وفساد أخلاقي بمسمى ديني فضفاض !!وأكرر لا أعلم حقيقته ..عبدالعزيز الثانيTranslation @ABEERMUSALAM: Stupidest lie ever told. #جهاد_النكاح اسخف كذبة قيلت !عبير الحويطي #سورياMany online dismissed the idea of this having anything to do with religion, condemning the alleged practices. Another horrendous attempt to defame #Islam .. 'Tunisian girls return home pregnant after ‘sexual #jihad’ in #Syria' english.alarabiya.net/en/variety/201…Saqib TanveerTunisian girls return home pregnant after ‘sexual jihad’ in Syria english.alarabiya.net/en/variety/201… How men manipulate religion to suit their needs!Shaista Gohir'Sexual jihad': Tunisian women go to Syria to 'relieve' 20-100 holy warriors, return pregnant pllqt.it/LXS5ZP <- This is prostitutionHalo #PardonManningThe former mufti of Tunisia, Sheikh Othman Battikh, denounced these types of practices in April - arguing that this was flat out prostitution, not "jihad al-nikah".Tunisian Grand Mufti: Jihad in Syria is Un-Islamic; Salafis in Syria Are Taught False Ideologieseretzzen2The Stream previously covered similar false reports of "marriage jihad" in Syria. Watch our segment:
Stream Leads 03/01/2012aljazeeraenglish