Iraqi athletes murdered by militants for wearing shorts.

**Grimmlok** · May 27th, 2006, 11:08 AM

The coach of Iraq's tennis team and two players were shot dead in Baghdad on Thursday, said Iraqi Olympic officials.

Coach Hussein Ahmed Rashid and players Nasser Ali Hatem and Wissam Adel Auda were killed in the al-Saidiya district of the capital.

Witnesses said the three were dressed in shorts and were killed days after militants issued a warning forbidding the wearing of shorts.

Other Iraqi athletes have been targeted in recent incidents.

In this case, according to accounts, the men dropped off laundry and were then stopped in their vehicle by gunmen.

Leaflets

Two of the athletes stepped out of the car and were shot in the head, said one witness. The third was shot dead in the vehicle.

"The gunman took the body out of the car and threw it on top of the other two bodies before stealing the car," said the witness, who requested anonymity.

He said leaflets had been recently distributed in the area warning residents not to wear shorts.

Last week, 15 members of Iraq's taekwondo team were kidnapped between Falluja and Ramadi, west of Baghdad, said a member of the Iraqi Olympic Committee. The kidnappers have demanded $100,000 for their release.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/5020804.stm

Freedom is certainly on the march.

**Mr. Authority** · May 27th, 2006, 03:00 PM

Why are shorts illegal to wear in Iraq? With the heat and all that there it's common sense to wear shorts. Unless it has something to do with some out-there religous reason I just don't understand killing the ahtletes.

**twitchy** · May 27th, 2006, 03:11 PM

I thought that 'fashion police' was just a figure of speech.

**MgMMD** · May 27th, 2006, 03:18 PM

We are certainly doing a "bang up" job over there creating a democratic western civilization and all..

**Grimmlok** · May 27th, 2006, 06:13 PM

Frankly, I'd like to see Iraqi athletes play soccer in full burqa.

**Lobelia** · May 27th, 2006, 07:41 PM

There are some folks who shouldn't wear shorts, but you would think athletes would look good in them.

Why don't we just have a committee of about 10 people who decide what everybody in the world can & cannot do. Obviously, the common person in the street doesn't have sense enough to make good decisions, and is liable to do something insane, like wear shorts.