Broad condemnation of murder of female school teacher in Pattani yesterday

Islamic religious leaders and residents of Yarang district in Pattani joined in special prayers to condemn violence and to bemoan the death of a Muslim female teacher, who was shot dead in her car in front of a school in the district yesterday. Her husband, a police officer, was also injured, but their two-month old baby girl miraculously escaped unhurt.

Senator Angkhana Neelapaijit and the National Human Rights Commission have separately issued statements condemning the use of violence against women and children, who are not involved in the conflict in the restive Deep South.

The broad daylight shooting took place in front of the Prasarn Wittaya Foundation in Yarang district at about 3pm, as students were leaving for home.

Four insurgents, disguised as women in hijabs and riding two motorcycles, approached the targeted car, being driven by the police officer, identified as Adul Hayisulong, with his wife, Fatimo.

Fatimo was on maternity leave and was holding her two-month old baby in her arms when the attackers opened fire on their car before speeding away.

The school director, Muhamad Hayiteh, said today that he and the teaching staff are deeply grieved by the death of Fatimo. He said that it was the first day that she had visited the school after giving birth to her third child about two months ago.

He also said that the couple had come to the school to pick up their two other children at the end of the day’s classes.

Despite the violent incident, classes at the school resumed today, but parents and students have said how shocked they are by the incident, because it came a few days ahead of the Hari Raya Haji celebration, marking the conclusion of the annual Hajj pilgrimage.

Meanwhile, security forces have been checking CCTV footage from in front of the school and along the escape route of the perpetrators in an attempt to track them down.