Stryker Brigade News

Representing IMN were Manager Mr. Hamen, Studio Director Mohammad Nori, Sound Operator Khaled Mageed, and Introducer Muhialdin Abdulrahman.

This time, IMN listeners had requested Sufyan to return to the radio show. They wanted him to elaborate on his last session, concerning the belief that Muslims who kill will not go to heaven, but will go to hell.

Several people called in with questions about terrorists and security in their villages. “What does a Muslim have to do in order to end terrorism?”

“Don’t be afraid,” responded Sufyan. “If you see strange men, or even women, in your village that you do not know, ask them what they are doing there. Ask them where they are from and who they are visiting? Report suspicious men and women to your nearby police station or traffic control point.”

A couple of listeners called in simply pleading Sufyan to ask the people of Iraq to stop fighting. They begged him to tell everyone listening, and everyone he encounters in his home village Qayarrah, to please stop the fighting.

One caller commented on the searches conducted by the Iraqi Police (IP) and Iraqi Army (IA). “Some IP and IA forces are rude and disrespectful when they search our homes. Could you please speak to them and ask them to be more respectful.”

Sufyan addressed the IP and IA listeners, asking them to conduct their routine searches in a more respectful manner. He also enforced to the public that it is important they trust Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) and continue to report suspected terrorists to them.

Another caller wanted to know why the Coalition Forces (CF) have not left Iraq yet. “We don’t want them here anymore. When will they leave?”

“CF cannot leave yet because we are still fighting each other. As long as we fight against each other, CF will remain here and help maintain security. Americans and other CF have families, too. They miss their families and their families miss them. They want to go home, but do not want to leave our country until terrorists no longer roam the streets, the villages are safe and an effective Iraqi government is established,” said Sufyan.

Following this call, an individual called in asking Sufyan to tell CF that Iraqis can protect themselves. “The government needs to issue weapons to the Iraqi people, people that can be trusted, so that we can protect ourselves.”

Sufyan’s response to this was that that is what the IP and IA are for. However, the caller insisted they were not enough. “This is what they did in Baghdad and it worked,” he claimed.

He also asked CF to stop daytime patrols and only do nighttime patrols. “You must understand, the patrols are to protect you,” Sufyan explained.

In addition to calls concerning terrorists and security forces, several individuals called simply to thank Sufyan for speaking on the radio. “Continue to help inform citizens what to do to make Iraq better for our children. We really appreciate it,” said one woman from Qayarrah.

Sufyan is very happy to travel to Mosul once a month and speak on IMN. “For a long time I felt there wasn’t much I could do to help the people of Iraq. With this radio show, I feel I am really making a difference.”