17-year-old Muslim who journeyed to the Islamic State becomes UK’s youngest jihad-martyrdom suicide bomber

http://www.jihadwatch.org/2015/06/17-year-old-muslim-who-journeyed-to-the-islamic-state-becomes-uks-youngest-jihad-martyrdom-suicide-bomber

June 14, 2015 12:36 pm By Robert Spencer 25 Comments

His family is shocked, shocked by this, and took the opportunity to shore up Islam’s ever-sagging image: “We need time and understanding to come to terms with our unimaginable and painful loss. As a family we would like to take this opportunity to unequivocally state that ‘Isis’ are not Islam. They do not represent in any way, shape or form Islam and Muslims and we are no longer prepared to allow a barbaric group like ‘Isis’ to hijack our faith.” That’s interesting. What will they do now? Challenge the imams and Muslim leaders who are doing that “hijacking”? That would be unprecedented.

Meanwhile, why was what they taught young Talha about peaceful Islam so weak as to be unable to withstand the blandishments of these online “hijackers”?

“West Yorkshire teenager is ‘UK’s youngest suicide bomber,'” by David Barrett, Telegraph, June 14, 2015:

The “heartbroken” family of a British teenager reportedly killed while fighting for Islamic State said those who sent him to his death had preyed on the “innocence and vulnerability” of a 17-year-old boy[.]
Talha Asmal, who reportedly became Britain’s youngest suicide bomber when he detonated a vehicle fitted with explosives in Iraq, has been described as “a loving, kind, caring and affable teenager”, who never harboured any ill-will against anybody.
In a statement released on Sunday, his family said – despite his death not being officially confirmed – photographs showing a youth purportedly named Abu Yusuf Al Britany appear to depict their son.
The teenager fled his home in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, in March to allegedly join Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil), also known as Isis, along with his friend Hassan Munshi, who was also 17.
The family said he came “from a close-knit, hard-working, peace-loving and law-abiding British Muslim family” who unreservedly “condemns and abhors all acts of violence wherever perpetrated”.
They said despite him never exhibiting any extreme or radical views, he had been exploited by extremists on the internet “in a process of deliberate and calculated grooming”.
Unbeknown to them and completely against their will, they said, he travelled to Iraq via Turkey and fell under the spell of Isil handlers who are “too cowardly to do their own dirty work”.
“We are all naturally utterly devastated and heartbroken by the unspeakable tragedy that now appears to have befallen us,” they said.
“We need time and understanding to come to terms with our unimaginable and painful loss. As a family we would like to take this opportunity to unequivocally state that ‘Isis’ are not Islam.
“They do not represent in any way, shape or form Islam and Muslims and we are no longer prepared to allow a barbaric group like ‘Isis’ to hijack our faith.”
They added that Isil’s actions were “not and never in our name”….