"Touching a Martyr" is worth street credit if you're a kid in the Palestinian Authority. Kids want to touch the dead body so they can "brag to their friends" about it, according to the official PA daily.
Referring to the "images that remain" when "parting from the Martyrs," the paper described:
"A boy is hanging out the window of a room and watching the parting from the Martyr... He comes out quickly and tries to touch the head of the Martyr. He wants to reach the glory in order to brag to his friends that he touched a Martyr..."
[Official PA daily
Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Oct. 2, 2018]
Palestinian Media Watch has reported in the past on this
cult-like behavior towards "Martyrs", which the Palestinian Authority promotes and glorifies.
Not only does the "Martyr's" "glory" rub off on you if you touch him, but the Martyr is also believed to be "a groom" on his way to his wedding to the
72 Virgins in Paradise:
"When the body of the Martyr reached his home, his closest friend Ata looked for the Martyr's mother and shouted: 'We have brought you the groom; we have brought you the groom.'"
[Official PA daily
Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Oct. 2, 2018]
According to Islamic belief, a "Martyr" marries 72 Dark-Eyed Virgins in Paradise. Therefore a "Martyr's" funeral is considered a "wedding." Palestinian religious leaders have repeatedly explained that becoming a "Martyr" represents the
highest achievement that can be attained by a Muslim.
This cult-like Martyr worship by the PA has been going on for years. Palestinian children were taught to glorify Martyrs
(Shahids) during the PA's 5-year terror campaign (the second Intifada, 2000-2005). The PA reported at the time that the children would play "the
Shahid Game" and argue over who gets to play the best part and die as a "Martyr":
"A seven year old girl says to her friends: 'Let's play the
Shahid (Martyr) Game!' The children... argue who will play the
Shahid. Fa'iz, 6 years old, says: 'You were the
Shahid yesterday, today it's my turn! I'm younger than you. I'll be the one to die!'"
[Official PA daily,
Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Dec. 26, 2001
(full article online)
Touch the dead "Martyr" and brag to your friends - PMW Bulletins