The Turkish daily Hurriyet reports that a police raid in several locations against Turkish Al-Qaeda netted 39 Al-Qaeda members.
The operation also turned up report cards from a school in Konya attended by the children of Al-Qaeda members that include a pledge "to Koran, to jihad, and to martyrdom."
One side of the report cards contained the student's name and grade along with some Koranic verses, but the other side contained a pledge to the Koran, to jihad, and martyrdom. Some writing on the report cards is in Arabic instead of Turkish.
Also found was an amended, radical Islamist version of Turkey's national pledge, the original of which is recited daily in all Turkish schools. This amended version, which was found to be recited every day by the Al-Qaeda children aged four to nine, reads:
I pledge that I am a Muslim, hardworking, patient and determined.
My rules are to learn and understand the Koran, to live the Koran, to teach and spread the Koran, to obey its commandments, and to love the creation [of Allah].
As a Muslim, I dedicate my existence to my cause, to humanity, and to the way of Allah.
Oh Allah, we pray to live like shahids [martyrs] and to become shahids.
Also found in Konya was a site used as a madrassa where children over nine studied Koran and adults were taught about jihad and martyrdom.
Source: Hurriyet, March 16, 2007
