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Occupation,
Soaring Prices Overshadow Ramadan In Iraq
By
Samir Hegazy, IOL Baghdad Correspondent
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"Being
penniless, we can not meet the basic necessities let alone
buying Ramadan-related products," said an Iraqi woman |
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.
Some
10
million Iraqis in both the private and public sectors have
been driven jobless, especially after the U.S. decision to dissolve
the defense, interior and information ministries.
"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.
On
June 9, hundreds of unemployed Iraqis demonstrated in the southern
capital of Basra against the employment of Asian
oil workers by U.S. companies.
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.
"Every
year in Ramadan I used to come to Al-Shurga market to buy my needs
but this time I was dumbfounded by the prices," said Rasheed
Salman.
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