Saudi memorial under fire for ethnically diverse depictions of hijackers
Artist defends move, asserting it reflects 'the all-encompassing diversity of our jihad'

By Molly T. Colcherrel
True Dork Times Artistic Globalization Editor

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia. (TDT)  A proposed Saudi Arabian sculpture memorializing the September 11th hijackers has generated intense controversy among Saudi citizens, because the three hijackers depicted have been re-cast as multi-ethnic: An Arabic man, a Viking warrior, and what appears to be 12th-century warlord Genghis Khan.  The artist defended his decision as "reflecting the all-encompassing diversity of our jihad."

Radical Islamic groups from around the world expressed outrage at the inclusion of non-Arabic people in the statue, which recreates the last known public photo of hijacker Mohammed Atta, from a Maine airport security camera image.  "This is an insult to our fallen brothers," exclaimed a heated missive from the Egyptian group, the Muslim Brotherhood.  Other responses from Saudi citizens equated the statue's creator to various anatomical parts of goats, swine, cattle and Kathie Lee Gifford.

Sculptor Ibrahim Youssef, however, was unswayed by the avalance of criticism.  "Because this event stands as an emblem of our jihad, I wanted it to reach out to our fundamentalist brothers of other nationalities with this piece," Youssef explained.  "As I learned in the training camps in the Sudan and Afghanistan: In spirit, we all stand together against the infidels.  We are bound together in our unquenchable thirst for Western blood."

When reminded that Vikings in particular were, in fact, Westerners themselves, and had little interest in extreme Islamic fundamentalist movements, Youssef replied, "Yes, but they also killed a lot of people, and that has to count for something.  That figure was placed more symbolically, as a celebration of the whole raping and pillaging aspect.  Technically, yes, the hijackers were almost exclusively Saudi, but I am trying to capture the broader, multi-cultural inclusiveness of our murderous outreach program."

For its part, the Saudi government distanced itself from the project, claiming not to know about it.  "Look, we've said time and again we don't support terrorism of any kind.  And frankly, we're getting a little tired of having to round up and torture extremists every time some nutcase prints up an 'I Love Osama' poster," a spokesman for Crown Prince Abdallah said.  "Oh, and if you see the U.S. government, please remind them it's time to clear out their Saudi military bases, as they promised.  Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go mail a care package to the Abu Sayyaf."

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