Saturday, January 30, 2010

When the poor commit suicide

"Suicide is on the rise in Egypt, where about 45% of the population lives on $2 a day or less. Gamal Zahran, a member of parliament, has blamed the government for unemployment and poverty that he says have caused thousands of Egyptians to kill themselves. He called for an investigation and told lawmakers that suicides rose from 1,160 in 2005 to 3,700 in 2007 to 4,200 in 2008. Figures for 2009 were not available." Of course, this will baffle the thelogocentric analysts of the Middle East who assume that Muslims can't commit suicide because Islam prohibits suicide. (thanks Dina)