Civil war: Iraq and ruin

Posted by Isam Rasheed on January 19, 2007. Filed under International,Iraq. Posted with the tags:Iraq
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On 30 December 2006, the Iraqi government executed Saddam Hussein.

Many NGOs and countries asked them not to on this particular day because it is a holy day for Muslims, a day of forgiveness.

Further, it is a holiday in Iraq, and Iraqi law prohibits executions on holidays. But the Iraqi government amended this law the day before it carried out Saddam’s execution, at 6am.

Because it was so early in the morning, few people knew what had happened until it was over. The following day, 31 December, there was a whole series of demonstrations in Iraq and around the world, including in Jordan, Libya, Algeria, Yemen, India, Nepal and Pakistan, against the decision to execute Saddam.

Many Iraqis, in different areas of the country, held commemorations for their former ruler, suggesting some people liked Saddam and did not want to see him executed.

Mr Jamal Naser, a 40 year old police officer, told me:

“I didn’t like Saddam but I feel very bad because he was executed on the first day of our Eid, and this is not good because on this day we release people (from jail) and forgive people, not execute them.

“I think our sectarian government wants to create the conditions for civil war through this, by widening the gulf between Sunnis and Shias. Our government seeks to divide people and that is why Iraqis are very suspicious with regards to their decisions.”

Another man said:

“I am sure the Iraqi government knew what they were doing here. They are working on behalf of Iran. That is why they executed Saddam in the same room he used to make plans against Iran during the Iraq-Iran war.”

He agrees that civil war is the aim, and continued:

“I think Saddam behaved with great honour during his trial and was very brave during his execution, when he refused to hide his face and close his eyes.”

Future

Personally speaking, I think it is time for Iraq to look to the future, to build it ourselves, without occupation.

I am sorry, not for Saddam, but for the fact that he was executed under occupation, which means that everything was controlled behind closed doors, rather than by us.

Meanwhile, on the streets, the militias retain the upper hand. Iraqis are trying desperately to find some kind of normality, to live in peace, but the militias and their supporters continue to hijack life in Baghdad, through kidnapping and killing.

In late November 2006, a large militia force arrived in central Baghdad, in a convoy of more than 40 police commando cars, to raid a department at the Ministry of Higher Education, at Al-Andlus Street.

They ‘arrested’ some 180 people, including teachers, students and department officials, taking them to an unknown destination.

Three days later, their bodies turned up at the central Baghdad morgue.

How did the militia obtain the police cars and guns? And why did neither the US nor Iraqi armies intervene?

This was not an isolated incident. On 10 December, the same or similar militia raided Baghdad’s main market, ‘arresting’ more than 50 people, mostly shopkeepers and merchants, later killing them all.

Then on 17 December, a militia descended on the Red Crescent headquarters, where they seized 27 men, whose whereabouts remain unknown.

Fear

People live in fear, never knowing when these militias may strike next.

A local man told me:

“I think they (the militia) came from Iran and are supported by them. They were mostly members of the Al-Mahdi and Badr militias and their aim is to shut down Baghdad. Because of them, most Baghdad shops are closed now and all the official buildings empty of workers. Baghdad has become a ghost city, and the US troops just watch and do nothing.”

I spoke to a Mr Abdul Jabbar, formerly of the Iraqi army, regarding an incident on 20 December, when a militia kidnapped three girls from Al Mustansiriya university, who were then raped and killed.

“The militias began by stopping the young men from attending university. Now they stop the young women. They want to stop everything.”

Events at Al Hurriya, in north west Baghdad, where Sunni and Shia had previously lived in peace for over a century, have caused great disquiet.

Ten months ago, the Al Mahdi militia opened offices here, and began forcing Sunnis out of the area to make it Shia only. The Al Madhi army is Shia.

By December, the only remaining Sunnis were to be found in a tiny area called Jed Hurriya.

On 10 December, this area was surrounded by militia who then raided the houses, killing many Sunnis and raping three women.

Every remaining Sunni was forced from the area.

Mr Salah Al mashdani, one of the expelled Sunnis, ran to ask soldiers of the Iraqi army, stationed nearby, to help him protect his home, “but they didn’t care.

“They said they were not responsible (for our safety) and that I would have to protect my house myself.”

Nearby, militia men dragged one of the guards at the al Muhaimin mosque, a Sunni mosque, for more than 500 metres.

His name was Khalid and he was already dead.

“They massacred a further five men, and their heads were discovered the next day in a neighbouring area.”

Occupation

From the very early days of the occupation, the militias have been ignored by the government and this has allowed them to grow and grow in strength. There is no-one within the current government who really wants to see them destroyed, because the Al Mahdi army means Al-Sadr and the Badr militia means Al-Hakim.

No-one stops them as they seek to destroy Iraq, day after day.