Pilgrims defiant after Baghdad bombings

A multiple suicide bombing by three women failed to dampen the spirits of about one million people in Baghdad this week who flocked to a revered shrine in the north of the capital for the climax of a major religious event.
One of my reporters, Sarmad Ali, was among the streams of flag-waving pilgrims who visited the Khadamiya shrine barely 24 hours after the blasts, which left about 35 people dead and many more wounded.
This is what he saw as he took part in the procession to mark the death of Imam al-Kadham, one of Shia Islam's 12 imams.
From early morning on Tuesday, buses ferried men, women and children from central Bagdad towards the shrine. Many other people chose to walk, passing through layer upon layer of check points as they approached their destination.
Women dressed in black wearing a badge that said ‘search committee’ frisked fellow females to reduce the chances of a repeat attack. Mobile phones were also taken off everyone as they entered the Khadamiya neighbourhood.
Sweltering under the midday sun, pilgrims were able to take shelter in one of many tents that lined the route, offering refreshments inside. Local people also sprayed visitors with water and perfume to help to cool them down.
An overall improvement in security in and around Baghdad enabled families living in former hotspot areas, such as Diyala province to the northeast of the capital and the town of Madaen to the southeast, to take part in the pilgrimage, some for the first time since the invasion.
Many of these people wept hard as they stood to pay their respect inside the shrine. Some carried photographs of relatives they had lost in the violence that consumed Iraq from 2003.

In another break from before, Shia militiamen who used to control the streets around the shrine were no longer in sight. Instead police and soldiers, deployed in their thousands, took full charge of security. Banners praising the al-Mahdi Army militia loyal to Moqtada al-Sadr had also vanished.
Speaking to a selection of pilgrims, all were grateful about the better security despite the bombings the previous day. They also commented on a spate of reconstruction projects that had given the Khadamiya district a facelift.
Suad al-Kerbooli, in her 30s, travelled with her 2-year-old son, Khadim, from Diyala province. The boy, who had a green piece of sacred cloth wrapped around his neck, was named after Imam al-Khadim after his mother visited the shrine to pray for a child when she was having trouble falling pregnant.
“As everyone knows, al-Kadhim is a granter of wishes,” said Mrs Kerbooli, who like many women, was dressed in traditional black Islamic robes and a headscarf.
“Nothing in the universe can stop me from making the pilgrimage to the shrine except the will of God himself,” she said, adding: “I pray that next year, Iraq is living in peace and away from bloodshed."
Student Mohammed Shareef Ziara, 22, was one of the local people helping to distribute cold water to cool pilgrims down.
"I have not slept for two days,” he said, looking worn out. “The pilgrimage this year is different than before because the security situation is better. Everyone feels relaxed. Also there is no harassment from any militia.”
One woman from the town of Madaen rejoiced at being able to make the trip for the first time in three years.
"In the past, Sunni militants prevented us from taking part in this occasion,” said Um Haydar al-Maliki, 57, who was holding the hand of her granddaughter who has a problem with her sight that doctors are unable to fix.
“I brought her with me to get her cured,” said Mrs Maliki, hoping that Imam al-Khadim would answer her prayers.

Picture 1: Shia pilgrims gather at the Holy Shrine of Imam Musa al-Kadim in the Kadhimiyah district of Baghdad, Iraq on 29 July 2008. About one million people gathered at the Imam Moussa al-Kadhim shrine to mark the anniversary of the death of Imam Musa al-Kadim who was the seventh of the twelve Shia Imams.  EPA/ALI ABBAS

Picture 2: An Iraqi helicopter flies near the tomb of Imam Musa al-Kadim in the Kadhimiyah district of Baghdad, Iraq on 29 July 2008. About one million people gathered at the Imam Moussa al-Kadhim shrine to mark the anniversary of the death of Imam Musa al-Kadim who was the seventh of the twelve Shia Imams. EPA/ALI ABBAS

Picture 3: Iraqi Muslim Shiites perform a mock burial for Imam Musa al-Kadhim at his shrine in Kadhimiyah district in northern Baghdad on July 29, 2008. Under a mass of green and black flags, thousands of pilgrims walked through Baghdad's heavily-policed streets for a major Shia religious ceremony today, a day after women suicide bombers killed at least 25 worshippers.

Picture 4: An Iraqi man carries a baby while a child holds onto his back as they return from the Imam Musa al-Kadhim shrine in Baghdad on July 29, 2008. Thousands of pilgrims headed slowly through Baghdad's heavily-policed streets today for a major Shia religious ceremony, one day after suicide bombers killed dozens of them. Around a million pilgrims are expected at a holy shrine in Kadhimiyah, in northern Baghdad, where an extra 5,000 police and soldiers have been deployed as part of stepped up security, a traffic curfew and additional checkpoints. The pilgrimage is to mourn the death of Shiite imam Mussa Kadhim, who is believed to have been buried in the Kadhimiyah mosque after being poisoned in Baghdad in the late eighth century by agents of the then-ruling Sunni caliph, Harun al-Rashid. AFP PHOTO/ALI YUSSEF

Comments

[Mike]

Its good to see the Times reporting the good news from Iraq. For so many the liberation of Iraqis seems to be an unwelcome development. I think this says something very deep and very nasty about these people.

When will John Humphreys and the collected liars and bigots of the media be held to account for the disgusting display they have indulged themselves in since 2003, glorying in the death and suffering of our soldiers and Iraqis while decent men and women risk their lives and telling infantile ignorant lies abvout oil "theft" and other self serving, conflict encouraging lies?

I am reminded of the "people" who stoned the house of a paediatrician in Wales believing him to be a paedophile.

I think we are in the equivalent period viz Iraq. Its the long walk home by the previously righteously indignant child doctor stoners as thier cretinous assertions are exposed as drivel. I expect a similar pregnant silence prevailed then as we observe now on Iraq good news in large sections of our media sewer.

I would stone these people as they walk home in shamed silence. These people are the rot in our socities and their cowardly simpering cant is the reason the world is still so full of sufffering. Still, lets forget about that and defend our farmers eh? No, lets review what journalists said and hold THEM to account