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Children Victimized by All Sides in Syrian Conflict
Investigative Project on Terrorism http://www.childrensrightsinstitute.org/329/children-victimized-by-all-sides-in-syrian
His hands are barely large enough to reach the trigger, but the 5-year-old boypulls hard on his AK-47 as his father stands beside him cheering. Elsewhere, a boy of 4 raises a machete,then strikes, beheading an unarmed prisoner. These are the scenes that are emerging from Syria now, as opposition groups ranging from the Free Syrian Army to the al-Qaida affiliated Al Nusra Front recruit children, boys barely old enough to stand alone, to fight. But unlike most young boys who frequently play "soldier" and "superhero," pitting the good guys against the bad guys, their weaponry is real. And there aren't any good guys. © 2024 Children's Rights Institute. |