Abeer Qasim Hamza al-Janabi

She was only 14-years-old. Her father (34), mother (43) and sister (6) were all shot in the head first. Abeer was then raped by US soldiers before she was also shot in the head. Leading up to her rape and murder, Abeer was afraid -- she crossed the US checkpoint on a daily basis and had unwanted attention from the soldiers. Her mother had confided in neighbours that she was afraid that the soldiers would come to take her daughter away. No one thought it was possible.

The soldiers are under arrest and may face the death penalty under US laws. US soldiers in Iraq are immune from Iraqi laws. Their deaths wouldn't be sufficient punishment, however.

Abeer is survived by two brothers, 10 & 13, who were not home when their family was murdered.

Read the details in this Reuters report.

Update: July 28, 2006

On a related note, a BBC report has pieced together the story of Atefah Sahaaleh of Iran. She was executed by hanging on August 15, 2004. Her sentence: crimes against chastity -- enforced by Iran's Sharia law. She was 16 years old. She was not married, but was being abused by a 51 year old who was married. He received 95 lashes. Where's the justice? This backward nation is killing its own future in their embrace of the past. This is their jihad.

Updated: July 30, 2006

An update on Abeer Qasim Hamza al-Janabi's story. The Washington Post is carrying a story on Private Steven D. Green, the child's rapist and murderer. Green was interview in February by Andrew Tilghman, who quotes him as follows:

"I came over here because I wanted to kill people. The truth is, it wasn't all I thought it was cracked up to be. I mean, I thought killing somebody would be this life-changing experience. And then I did it, and I was like, 'All right, whatever.' I shot a guy who wouldn't stop when we were out at a traffic checkpoint and it was like nothing," he went on. "Over here, killing people is like squashing an ant. I mean, you kill somebody and it's like 'All right, let's go get some pizza.'"

America should be afraid of this man. If they don't put him away for life, he will be taking to the street to take more lives.

Updated: November 17, 2006

Soldier Describes Genesis of Rape Plan -- James Barker, one of the five soldiers implicated in the rape and murder of Abeer has pleaded guilty, and has been sentenced to life by a military judge. I've read a number of reports relating to the trial for the rape and murder of the 14-year-old Abeer, and in none of them, do them mention her name. She keeps being referred to as the "14-year-old Iraqi girl. After what was done to her, the media could at least afford her memory some recognition. She wasn't just some 14-year-old Iraqi girl. She had a name. She was Abeer, and she shouldn't be forgotten. She's one of the unfortunate victims of this wrong war.