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| Iraq |
| Shia tribal leaders afraid of Shia Islamists in southern districts |
| 2007-10-17 |
| Tribal leaders warn Islamism on rise (reuters) Oct 17, 2007 9:14 AM Shi'ite Islamist political parties are imposing strict Islamic rules in the oil-producing southern provinces of Iraq and using their armed wings to create a state of fear, a group of tribal Shi'ite leaders said... "Fear rules the streets now," said one of the sheikhs. "We cannot speak our minds..." The fear is not unfounded - two provincial governors and a police chief were blown up by roadside bombs in August... Aides to Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, the reclusive religious leader of Iraq's Shi'ites, have also been killed. The sheikhs said the conservative religious attitudes meant only religious music was now allowed to be played in public places and dancing was forbidden, as was drinking alcohol. Women were also harassed for wearing clothing deemed inappropriate. Photographs of secular political leaders like former interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi could not be displayed in shops and other public areas. [If it weren't so serious I'd get a good laugh out of the fact that these pious Muslims are terrified of the actual results of Sharia justice while somehow blanking out the fact that Sharia justice is the goal of Islam] |
| Posted by:mhw |
| #1 The Reuters reporter makes it sound like the Shiite sheikhs are ripe for an Anbar Awakening of their own. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2007-10-17 14:22 |