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| Iraq-Jordan |
| Iraqi Youths (heart) Tater: Kiss His Poster |
| 2005-08-26 |
| Firebrand Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr is rapidly gaining support among Iraqi youth, raising fears he could eventually unify Shi'ites and Sunnis against American forces. Iraqi youth raptly listening to tapes of Sheik al-Sadr, and both young men and girls kissing his posters. Even police stations had pictures of Sheik al-Sadr on the walls, said Babak Rahimi, just back from a two-week trip to southern Iraq. Followers of the militant cleric, who has been generally quiet since leading two uprisings against American forces last year, have been engaged in two days of violent clashes with the rival Iranian-trained Badr Brigades in the holy city of Najaf. "There is a lot of reverence for Muqtada al-Sadr" among more secular Sunnis, said Mr. Rahimi, who said he was taken aback by the dedicated following accumulated by the young cleric over the past two years. "This is an anti-American resistance movement, and he will eventually exploit this, he will eventually merge with the Sunni insurgents," Mr. Rahimi predicted. "This would prompt a stronger force against American troops in Iraq and he will have a lot more followers," he said. "It has something to do with something very basic, appealing looks, his charitable organizations and a very prestigious family background. Young girls kissing Muqtada al-Sadr's photograph? That tells you a lot," said Mr. Rahimi. |
| Posted by:Captain America |
| #3 These are Shiites, not Wahhabbi Sunnis. Personality cults are pretty standard for the Shiites, as they have been historically in many other strains of Islam. |
| Posted by: buwaya 2005-08-26 12:05 |
| #2 Sounds like idol worship and apostacy to me. |
| Posted by: Ted 2005-08-26 09:03 |
| #1 appealing looks? Did they not see that pic yesterday. Hell i couldn't even sleep last night thinking about those teeth. |
| Posted by: Thraing Hupoluper1864 2005-08-26 06:59 |