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Qawz Quzah
"(A Molotov cocktail) is an improvised weapon that is often used in riots and acts of sabotage because it is easy to make and use,'' according to an article in Tunisian children's magazine Qawz Quzah.
A how-to guide on putting together a Molotov cocktail is not something you would expect a children’s magazine to feature, but that is exactly what recently ran in "Qawz Quzah," a popular Tunisian magazine whose name means "rainbow" in Arabic and is aimed at children aged five to 15.
“(A Molotov cocktail) is an improvised weapon that is often used in riots and acts of sabotage because it is easy to make and use,'' reads the article, which came complete with detailed instructions on how to make a Molotov cocktail and appeared in the latest edition of Qawz Quzah.
The article, which appeared in a section of the publication called "Knowledge Corner," touched a raw nerve in a country still struggling to tame the unrest stirred up by last year's successful revolution, the first of the Arab Spring. The government on Monday announced that it would prosecute the popular magazine for running it.
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Tunisia's revolution led to the democratic election of a transitional government headed by the moderate Islamist Ennahda party, but violence persists among extreme religious groups. Molotov cocktails have been the weapon of choice in these confrontations.
A 'professional mistake'
Speaking from Tunis, Rabii Kalboussi, a journalist working for the English-language website Tunisia Live, told NBC News that the story has provoked a stronger reaction abroad than it has inside the country itself.
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“No one knows why such an article was published. It is a kids' magazine, so I don't think there are political intentions behind it,” he said.
“I don’t believe the government is really aware of the impact these things have on children, especially if they are regular readers of the magazine,” Kalbous added.
On Tuesday, the magazine’s editor-in-chief Monji Chebbi was forced to apologize on Tunisian television for what he described as a “professional mistake.”
The Ministry for Women and Family Affairs said the article “encourages violent and terrorist thought'' and it also endangers children's lives by “encouraging the use of Molotov cocktails in acts of vandalism or terrorism."
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The Molotov cocktail was named after Vyacheslav Molotov, the Soviet foreign minister during the 1950s. It is a general term used to describe improvised incendiary devices.
NBC’s Charlene Gubash and Reuters contributed to this report.
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Leave a Comment:
WOW! That's one heated comment!
Freckled faced Westerner school boy, and a little girl playing with a world globe... FIRST of all, Two things that would NEVER happen in their culture.
They ARE Stupider than I first gave them credit for. - Bunch of God forsaken cancer of the Earth...
At Least there won't be any Muslim Bastards in MY God's Heaven
Rabii Kalbous is either an idiot or an extremist.
the boy scout taught me .
This must also be part of that wonderful Koran teaching of good muslim children. Lets show them all how to Murder Innocent Lives of the Infidel Non-Muslims. Even though they are children it is ok for them to die for thier religion because they will be rewarded with all those virgins in the next life!
I'm sorry, I can't stop laughing at how stupid we are all becoming!
I'm sure Obama will be giving them aid the keep publishing going! Our Muslim Childrenhood!
Dear Panhanletown. Get educated, a brain, and a heart in that order. Then, and only then might you be able to work and play in society.
Tunisia doesn't get a single U.S. penny; either under the Obama administration, or the past Bush administration. That fact probably doesn't matter much to you though, I'm guessing you'd blame Obama for your own stupidity.
Extreme religious groups have done more to damage religion than any other group of people in history.
This go's for all religions.
Next month will feature making a dirty bomb with a smoke detector and other items around the house...
Don't you see, people?! This is what will happen if we allow the death of Big Bird!!
The more I learn about Islam, the more underwhelmed I have become.
Really, bombs for kids?
Psychiatrists have a very scientific expression for this (magazine editors) that they jot down in their notes while patients are being analyzed: "Just plain nuts."
These folks need this "2d Amendment" stuff more than We the People!!!!
Alright little jihadist, in the next chapter in our educational series, we'll instruct you how to strap grenades to your little brother and send him out to enforce the laws of allah by wiping out infidels.
Brought to you by Irwin Mainway of Mainway Toys.
I see a few of you have gotten all fired up.
I remember when Bazooka Bubble Gum showed us kids how to do these
types of things and when we sent in enough gum wrappers we would get all kind
of so called dangerous toys. OW the good old days.
Carbide cannons come to mind!
carbide? funny
Don't you remember them?
Gee Whiz.... What a nice and useful thing to teach children ages 5 to 15 to make????????? I'm thinking any reasoning with these people is virtually unattainable. Cut our losses, our aid, and go home. But, of course, I don't make those decisions, I just help pay for the collateral damage(s).
Interesting comments.. but to me.. the big thing seems to be... we will NEVER understand their culture. Most everyone here is appalled by "teaching kids how to make Molotov cocktails" but the article said they've received largely foreign criticism, not internally. What does that tell us about such a militant culture. No doubt, the US is a lot better off than most foreign countries, but I don't think we'll ever get their mindset until we have nothing. (OK, now don't anyone read into this that I said we stole stuff from the other countries, or that the reason there is such poverty in other countries is because of the US. That is simply not true.)
I guess people will have something to fear of in Tunisian in the future.
yeah, hows that tolerance working now.
My question is why did they used a cartoon of little Johnny America for the article? Shouldn't it Be Lil Ahmed?
How in the world do we live in a world bent on absolute destruction? I am just in shock! A world teaching hate and destruction.
Take a look at the hate building in America! Aren't we assisting with the hate and destruction? Our country should be the leader in understanding and tolerance.......but......not even happening here!
Help us all!
"No one knows why such an article was published. It is a kids' magazine, so I don't think there are political intentions behind it,” he said.
No, I'm sure not. No political intentions here.
That's the last straw!
Tonight is family night at my house and since my wife & I both served in the military, I think we are going to get together with our 9 yo & 5 yo to teach 'em how to field strip an AR-15 assault rifle.
Gonna have to begin a new family tradition to keep up with that 'religion of peace.'
Remember in the good old days when it was 'keep up with the Joneses'....
...now its 'keep up with the Jihadists'
I didn`t know there were red headed freckle faced Tunisians. I guess his name is Howdy Mohammad Doody.