IRAQ RISING

IRAQ RISING
Sunnis and Shi'a.....

Going through some of the Iraqi led posts and comments lately, I have noticed a bit of a backlash from fellow Iraqi Shia’s concerning comments that I and other Iraqis posts criticizing the UIA and the Shia’ parties and spicifically the Merje3ia’s of Nejef and Karbella. It seams that the tension has come to such a level that even any small criticism is not welcomed no matter how accurate or appropriate it may be..

So I believe it’s time to Dot some I’s and cross some T’s , ,, and I plead with any other Iraqi who reads this post to engage with me to clarify what this problem is..

AS I have mentioned before, I’m a shia’ by birth and heritage.. I was born to a father who is a practising shia (i’e he follows certain shi’a rules when it comes to praying and life rituals). I on the other hand, don’t.. you could say, I’m a non practising shi’a.. heck, I’m a non practicing Muslem to be more precise.. But I do believe in the ultimate truth that the Caliphate and the true hairs of Islam were the sons of Ali (pbuh), Hassan and Hussain.

My points is, I don’t need some guy in a black turban telling me what to do, how to pray and what to think in order for me to be a good Shi’a or a good Muslem,, and Neither should any other Shia for that matter…

I know this Sunni Shia tension has been boiling over in Iraq since days gone past. I only need to talk to my 80 year old Sunni grandmother (my Mothers mothers),, to realise the great animosity some Sunnis hold towards the traditions and practises of the Shi’a community. Thing’s like bloodletting in Ashura, Zawag al-mut3a (happy one night only marriages), and the perceived worshipping of shrines, are usually first to be mentioned.

Also being a Shi’a is also inadvertently linked to being of a lower social class in Iraqi society and this is something the Iraqis got during the Ottoman empire occupation and control of Iraq as most of the ruling and wealthy families were of Sunni decent brought over from Turkey and were loyal to the empire.. Naturally, this is something that the British also inherited when they took over Iraq at the turn of the century and this status quo has lasted to this day. So, it must be made clear that the tensions between the two factions has more to do with an economic basis than a religious bases. And the fact that some people want to turn it into a religious one really gets on my nerves.

What happened this week has truly brought this tension and animosity to the forefront, (with the help of some scrupulous meddling of some people of course), we have seen thousands of desperate Shi’a go to the streets and vent their anger at the Sunni community. What upsets me is that this has and was nurtured and urged upon from the so called leaders of the Shia community.. They have continually nurtured this illusion of a tension in order to best serve their political aspirations. These leaders have acted irresponsibly towards their constituents and Iraq, and it is for this reason that I absolutely abhore them.

As for the militia’s. I really want to hear one Shia Iraqi come out with it and condemn these barbarians. And NO,, the Shia militia’s are not the same as the Beshmerga of Kurdistan, and they have proven that time and time again.. the Mehdi Army and Bedr Berigades are o more than Mafia Mudering thugs intents on doing everything that Iran asks of them,, they are not Loyal to Iraq and they must be crushed.. Any politician that supports these private mafias has no place in Iraqi politics and should be discredited.

There is so much more I would like to say, but as usually, My talent for writing is limited and my mind looses focus after a while.. I just wanted to point out that we as Iraqis need to finally come together. Sunni , Shia, and Kurd, and finally work out this problem together.. we cannot let our country go down the pan like this after all the sacrifices and blood that have been shed.. We must not let brainless politicians dictate how we must think and who we must hate.. WE ARE ALL BROTHERS AND SISTERS OF IRAQ,,, I KNOW WE CAN GET THROUGH THIS..