BAGHDAD, October 23 (IslamOnline.net) - The U.S.-led occupation, the state of anarchy and instability as well as sky-high prices will be the main features of this year Ramadan in oil-rich Arab country, with most of the Iraqi population driven jobless by the Anglo-American invasion.

"Before the occupation, we used to welcome Ramadan by buying all that we need what we need for the holy months. But now my husband is one of thousands of Iraqis driven jobless by the occupation, " lamented Umm Abdullah, a housewife.

"Being penniless, we can not meet the basic necessities let alone buying Ramadan-related products," she said.

Other Iraqis complained of not being able to meet their spiritual needs.

"In Ramadan, we used to attend religious lessons and go to different mosques in Baghdad to listen to people reciting the holy Quran," recalled Umm Feras, anther Iraqi woman.

"Now, we are unable to do so fearing our things might be stolen or we might get hurt while passing by a U.S. military battalion," she added.

Echoing the same sentiments, Sheikh Damer Al-Zawba’e told IOL: "We would have hoped to celebrate Ramadan while enjoying freedom and security but we only replaced a cruel regime with one that is by far worse."

He asserted that the roadblocks and barbed wires installed by the occupation forces around Baghdad made it very difficult to scholars and imams from outside the capital to deliver sermons to the people.

"Because of insecurity, we had to arm our youths so that they stand guards to worshippers in the mosque court least they be attacked.

Unknown assailants had opened fire on worshippers in Qebaa mosque in Al-Shaab district Friday, September 5.

Other gunmen also fired at a group of people while emerging from Ibrahim Al-Khalil mosque on Thursday September 25, killing three and injuring more than 20.

"The occupation authorities had promised to improve the assistance package given by the ousted regime to Iraqis with the beginning of Ramadan but didn’t," stressed Jassem El-Eissawy, an international law professor.

"With the American freedom slogans, we thought the time of starvation had gone and Iraqis would enjoy the riches of their homeland. Here we are waiting but to vain," he added.

As the U.S.-led occupation aggravated the already stagnant Iraq economy, which suffered 13 years of international sanctions, prices hit sky-high level in Iraqi markets.