Ali Ismail Abbas
Ali Ismail Abbas (born 1991) is an Iraqi man who was severely injured in a nighttime rocket attack near Baghdad during the United States' 2003 invasion of Iraq.
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[edit] Injury
During the attack, two American missiles landed on his family's home, killing his parents (whose mother was still pregnant with another child at the time), his brother and 13 other members of his family. Both of Ali's arms had to be amputated and third-degree burns covered at least 35 percent of his body. He was 12 years old at the time. He underwent treatment in Kuwait, and later in London, where he was fitted with robotic prosthetic arms, paid for by the Kuwaiti government. He no longer uses the arms, having found them too heavy and unwieldy, although he wears artificial arms while attending school so as not to draw attention to himself. He is currently attending the Hall School Wimbledon.[1]
[edit] Citizenship
On January 1, 2010, it was announced Ali Abbas would get a British passport.[2] Ali had offers from other countries, such as Canada and America, but he turned them down because they would not take his friend with him.[3]
[edit] Publicity
In 2004, The Ali Abbas Story was written about Ali by Jane Warren and published by Harper Collins.
He was featured on 60 Minutes on 13 May 2007.[4]
He was featured in the September 2011 edition of Time Magazine
He was interviewed by Time Magazine.
[edit] Limbless Association
The Limbless Association (LA) set up a dedicated fund to assist those rendered amputees by the Iraq conflict. During a visit to Iraq LA Chairman Zafar Khan met Ahmad Hamza, a 14-year old boy who had also been injured in the Iraq conflict, resulting in his right leg and left hand being amputated. The Limbless Association pledged to use the Ali Fund to help both Ali and Ahmad. LA is the legal guardian for both Ali and Ahmad until they reach 18 years of age.[citation needed]
[edit] The Baghdad Bikers
Ali and his friends go on a publicity bike ride every year, called The Baghdad Bikers.[5]
[edit] Sources
- Bob Meadows, Juliet Butler. "Ali gets better", People Magazine, November 10, 2003.
- Dovey, Charlotte. "We gave orphan Ali his arms back", Daily Mail, November 4, 2003.
- Warren, Jane. "The Ali Abbas Story: The Moving Story of One Boy's Struggle for Life", Harper Collins, 2004.
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1513966/I-like-it-here-but-the-77-attacks-upset-me.-Those-terrorists-were-not-part-of-Islam.html
- ^ http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2010/01/18/ali-s-brit-passport-115875-21975908/
- ^ http://www.time.com/time/beyond911/#AliAbbas
- ^ Appearance on 60 Minutes
- ^ http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/05/11/60minutes/main2791925.shtml
