Evil al-Qaeda chiefs are raping young male converts to shame them into becoming suicide bombers, it emerged yesterday. The intense social stigma and fear of more gay sex attacks leaves Muslims prepared to die.
The warped new tactic was revealed by a reformed Algerian militant. Abu Baçir El Assimi said: "The sexual act on young recruits aged between 16 to 19 was a means to urge them to commit suicide operations." A 22-year-old had suffered sexual injuries before being shot dead on a suicide mission in Tademaït, Algeria, three weeks ago. Samples taken from his body are being analysed in a bid to identify his torturer. And the US military discovered two years ago that al-Qaeda were dishonouring women in Iraq to turn them into suicide bombers. A terror leader would marry, then let another man rape his wife.
It was also revealed yesterday how a 51-year-old woman militant had recruited more than 80 women as suicide bombers. Samira Jassim, who calls herself "the mother of believers", targeted the weak and troubled. Arrested after a tip-off, she admitted orchestrating 28 successful bombings.
Experts believe al-Qaeda's sick tactics may be a sign of desperation. One said: "Perhaps they are running short of potential martyrs."