Hair-Razing Ordeal

The Jerusalem Post reports that "Hamas has resumed its policy of shaving mustaches of political opponents to humiliate them." Among the Gaza regime's victims: Nafez al-Namnam, "a top Fatah operative in the Strip" whose "unusually large," 30-year-old mustache was shaved off by Hamas interrogators during a recent detention. Fatah's Aksa Martyrs Brigades "issued a statement strongly condemning the shaving of Namnam's mustache and threatening retaliation." It's not clear what form the retaliation might take, but Hamas has "accused the Palestinian Authority security forces of shaving the beards of detained Hamas officials in the West Bank."

[Thanks to Jonathan Shaffer for the tip.]  

Comments

Rimfax | July 31, 2008, 4:44pm | #

Brazilians!!!

SeeingI | July 31, 2008, 4:45pm | #

Jim Henson used to tell a story that his future mother-in-law wouldn't let her daughter marry him because of his hippie hair and beard (actually he was a beatnik, not a hippie, but never mind). He got a haircut and shaved, and sent the clippings in an envelope marked "From Samson, to Delilah." He then married the girl.

sixstring | July 31, 2008, 4:46pm | #

No! No! No! You only shave one side of the 30 year old mustache. That's the humiliation -- he either has to shave the remaining half himself to even it up, or he has to walk around for years with one side heavier than the other! Were you people never in a fraternity?

Ska | July 31, 2008, 4:47pm | #

Apparently not, otherwise they would have drawn a big cock on his forehead with a sharpie.

Rimfax | July 31, 2008, 4:49pm | #

Forget shaving them, just wax them up and let them go. Either they rip it off, shave it off, or try to melt wax off their face.

Nigel Watt | July 31, 2008, 4:52pm | #

I get the feeling that most of those bright enough to think up such heart-wrenching mustache hijinks have left Gaza long ago.

Mark | July 31, 2008, 4:52pm | #

I know Reason and its comments threads are all about snark, but I just don't see the humor in wanton humiliation of political prisoners. Do you guys find it equally hilarious that the Germans shaved the heads of Allied prisoners of war in WWI and WWII? Or is it just funny because the victims here are Arabs?

Episiarch | July 31, 2008, 5:02pm | #

I think we need to hunt down Mark and shave his tongue until he gets a sense of humor.

Mark II | July 31, 2008, 5:07pm | #

mark, this is definitely an improvement in political discourse.

sage | July 31, 2008, 5:08pm | #

Drink!

Warty | July 31, 2008, 5:09pm | #

Wrong, we need to wax his balls. Smooth, smooth balls...so smooth...excuse me a moment.

Bill | July 31, 2008, 5:10pm | #

Bob Barr has just issued a strong condemnation.

R C Dean | July 31, 2008, 5:20pm | #

Hamas has resumed its policy of shaving mustaches of political opponents to humiliate them.

The women, too? Heartless bastards!

Matthew | July 31, 2008, 5:20pm | #

Do you guys find it equally hilarious that the Germans shaved the heads of Allied prisoners of war in WWI and WWII? Or is it just funny because the victims here are Arabs?

Both.

Warty | July 31, 2008, 5:28pm | #

Speaking of hay-rabs and shaving, here's a great old story about how Muslims are utterly batshit.

Unsubstantive Kurt | July 31, 2008, 5:39pm | #

Do you guys find it equally hilarious that the Germans shaved the heads of Allied prisoners of war in WWI and WWII?

Mark, in less than ideal cleanliness conditions (like being in combat for an extended period of time), there is this condition that can develope called 'lice'.

Pat Buchanon | July 31, 2008, 5:40pm | #

The NAZIs were only try to help the prisoners to get rid of a nasty head lice infestation.

Warren | July 31, 2008, 5:42pm | #

This is exactly why we should have nothing to do with any of these Middle East, Middle Ages, morons. Just let them go about shaving and killing each other.

Ska | July 31, 2008, 5:47pm | #

So you're saying that they aren't ripe for a forced democratization?

Whatever the hell that's supposed to mean.

Josh Lyle | July 31, 2008, 5:52pm | #

Mark -
mustaches are just inherently funny.

That being said, I'd definitely be out for blood if anyone harmed mine.

Marcvs | July 31, 2008, 5:55pm | #

I know Reason and its comments threads are all about snark, but I just don't see the humor in wanton humiliation of political prisoners.

Hamas is a terrorist organization that is completely fucked up in every way. That fact that it even exists offends me. So, yes, we are laughing at one of their "antics" because the whole thing is so asinine.

J sub D | July 31, 2008, 5:57pm | #

I know Reason and its comments threads are all about snark, but I just don't see the humor in wanton humiliation of political prisoners. Do you guys find it equally hilarious that the Germans shaved the heads of Allied prisoners of war in WWI and WWII? Or is it just funny because the victims here are Arabs?

It seems that this is somewhat of an improvemnt over, y'know, FUCKING KILLING EACH OTHER!

But that may be just me.

WalterBoswell | July 31, 2008, 6:58pm | #

Nafez al-Namnam was heard to say:

"I thought they would kill me, but no they did not, it was a close shave however"


Baadum tish

Baadum tish

and...

Baadum tish

Paul | July 31, 2008, 7:05pm | #

I guess if two rival Arab factions in the heart of the Palestine controversy have been reduced to barber-related attacks, we can say that some progress has been made.

When retaliation means sending a strongly worded letter, or engaging in a major, and I mean major leaflet campaign, there are worse things that could happen.

Paul | July 31, 2008, 7:08pm | #

Do you guys find it equally hilarious that the Germans shaved the heads of Allied prisoners of war in WWI and WWII?

My father had been a prisoner of war in WWII, and I don't remember him waking up in the middle of the night, in cold sweats, screaming "No! Not the sideburns too! NOOooooo....."

I believe someone else pointed it out but uhh, they shaved the heads of allied prisoners to delouse them, not as a humiliation. At least that's what my Dad told me and he was... well, there 'n stuff.

Don't Touch My Moustache | July 31, 2008, 7:29pm | #

Your Welcome.

Paul | July 31, 2008, 7:31pm | #

DTMM:

What about my welcome?

Marie Osmond | July 31, 2008, 7:44pm | #

Shrieks and runs off to hide

GILMORE | July 31, 2008, 7:47pm | #

They probably think the Gillette Mach3 Turbo is like some jew/crusader secret weapon to denude Islam

Mike W | July 31, 2008, 8:03pm | #

Let me get this straight; Al Quieda kills men for having hair that is too long. And it's considered humiliating when their moustaches are not long enough?

Marcvs | July 31, 2008, 8:41pm | #

Don't bother trying to understand it logically, we're dealing with religion stuff here.

Ben | July 31, 2008, 9:01pm | #

Imagine what these bastards would do if they got their hands on Ron Jeremy. I don't even want to think about it.

DJ voton | July 31, 2008, 9:41pm | #

Do you guys find it equally hilarious that the Germans shaved the heads of Allied prisoners of war in WWI and WWII? Or is it just funny because the victims here are Arabs?
Both, actually.

Geo. Washington | July 31, 2008, 10:26pm | #

No wyfe

No Horse

No Mustache

Mr. Roboto | July 31, 2008, 11:55pm | #

What about my welcome?

Domo Arigato.

The Hedgehog | August 1, 2008, 12:34am | #

Call in the Zohan!

Chris | August 1, 2008, 8:45am | #

At least they are not waterboarding each other. That Equals Progress.

Jim Bob | August 1, 2008, 8:47am | #

I think they should give each other Mullets.

Michael | August 1, 2008, 8:48am | #

I think if he were still around, ol' Charlie O. Finley would have something to say about all this.

Rimfax | August 1, 2008, 8:59am | #

Paul,

Your Red Dwarf reference warmed my heart...and my goatee.

Rollie Fingers | August 1, 2008, 9:04am | #

Hides behind Sandy Koufax

Rimfax | August 1, 2008, 9:05am | #

Mark,

Hamas is nowhere near as evil as da Nazis.

Fatah is nowhere near as innocent as the German Jewry (and other prisoners.

Mustache shaving during a rough interrogation and release is nowhere near as evil as permanent detention ending in either starvation or a poison shower.

Other than that, your analogy is dead on and I, for one, am thoroughly ashamed at my levity.

R C Dean | August 1, 2008, 9:56am | #

Hamas is nowhere near as evil as da Nazis.

Probably not, but if they had the capability the Germans did circa 1940, I think we would see them as quite a bit more evil than we do.

blaupanzer | August 1, 2008, 10:50am | #

When the Khwarizim forcibly shaved the beards of some Mongol emmissaries (using fire to assure permanent removal), Ghengis Khan laid the whole empire to waste, killing over 1 1/2 million people. Seems Asians take this whole beard, hair, and mustache thing entirely too seriously. I say that as a man with a full beard. My greatest fear if ever taken for interrogation is not "they will shave my beard." I have parts with hair that are a lot more sensitive than my face. LOL

edna | August 1, 2008, 11:13am | #

don't tell me what i can do, or i'll have my mustache eat your beard.