Muhammad Abbas

In 2000, Muhammad Abbas wrote an article for the Egyptian newspaper Al-Sha'ab in which he attacked the Ministry of Culture for publishing a book, Feast of Seaweed,that Islam considered heretical. His article prompted students to riot and the newspaper was shut down by the government for a few months.

After the September 11 attacks, Abbas wrote another column for Al-Sha'ab. In this article, excerpted below, Abbas says he cannot cry over the American loss of life because his tears have run dry crying for Palestinian martyrs and those who have died at the hands of Americans. He is glad that Americans have finally learned that they, too, are vulnerable to pain, fear, and death. He notes that it is impossible for Americans to protect themselves against martyrs who are willing to die and warns that chemical, biological, and even nuclear...