ISIS Executing Children with Down Syndrome. Is History Repeating Itself?

Just yesterday we celebrated my cousins 18^th birthday it was such a milestone  for us all as he was born with Down Syndrome and I couldn’t help but have a dampener on my day when I read that ISIS have issued a fatwa (indicates a death sentence has been dealt to someone or some group of people,) which orders children with Down Syndrome and other disabilities to be killed.

 

 

More than 38 children born with deformities mentally and physically have already been murdered by lethal injection or suffocation.

 

This information was revealed by Iraqi activist group Mosul Eye, who claimed to have been monitoring the deaths of children with Down syndrome and congenital deformities, learnt of the ‘Oral Fatwa’ issued by the Shar’i Board of ISIL. The fatwa authorised its members to 'kill newborn babies with Down's Syndrome and congenital deformities and disabled children.'

 

This shocking treatment emulates that of Nazi torture practiced on those with disabilities during the Second World War. This is otherwise known as ‘Action T4.’  From August 1939 the Interior Ministry requested children and newborns with severe disabilities (i.e. Down Syndrome) must be reported and then killed by medical experts. Parents were told their children were being sent to ‘Special Sections’ where they would receive treatment. The deaths were recorded as pneumonia however; the children were murdered by an injection of toxic chemicals.

 

The history of the treatment of people with Down syndrome is just as shocking.

 

From 1CE to 1700’s society saw people with disabilities were lunatics and stupid which were possessed by the devil. Consequently, they were tortured and burnt at the stake

 

From 1800 to 1920 people with Down Syndrome were considered to be inferior and were therefore sent to insane asylums that had a reputation for physically abusing, neglecting and ridiculing their patients.

 

From the 1930’s to 1940’s it was believed that those with disabilities were polluting the human race.

 

From 1940 to 1970 publically, a German bishop delivered a sermon stating that the Nazi euthanasia was ‘plain murder.’ People with Down Syndrome were seen as unfortunate and thus institutionalized.

 

From 1970 to 2000’s showed a radically turn around for the social acceptance of disabled people. The Disability Rights Movement told society the problem was not with the individual but the environment.

 

This treatment is not only radically barbaric but utterly ridiculous considering 1 in 920 babies born today have Down Syndrome. It is sad to think that society is yet to completely accept minorities in society.

 

However, due to excellent scientific research and medical advances those with Down Syndromes’ life expectancy has risen and doubled by since 1970. Now people with Down Syndrome are expected to live beyond 60 years old.

 

Down Syndrome is categorized as a disability however this does not mean that those who have it cannot be independent and successful.

 

Angela Bachiller became the first person with Down Syndrome to be elected as councilwoman in 2013.

 

 

Melissa Reilly is known for being a gold medal winning skier, cyclist and swimmer, as well as having experience interning for a state senator. She also makes public appearances, speaking about how her disability hasn’t limited her.

 

 

 

Eli Reimer was the first person with Down Syndrome to hike to the Base Camp of Mount Everest in 2012.   

 

The most important aspect of Down Syndrome for not only myself but many others is society’s acceptance and understanding of people with not only Down Syndrome but all disabilities. Please share this with whoever you can, in order to further create awareness.