Waiting for Al-Mahdi
Discord divides southern Shi'ite Muslims over the future of Iraq amid celebrations of venerated saint. Nermeen Al-Mufti reports from Karbala
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Muqtada Al-Sadr, a radical Shi'ite preacher, denounced plans to deploy Turkish troops in Iraq; Iranian Shi'ites mark the birthday of Al-Mahdi in Karbala
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More than one million devout Shi'ite Muslims gathered between the golden domes of the Al- Hussein and Al-Abbas shrines in the southern Iraqi city of Karbala at the weekend to celebrate the birthday of imam Al-Mahdi. Al-Mahdi is the last of the Shi'ite imams, or saints, said to have disappeared in the ninth century and whom devout Shi'ites believe to be still alive and waiting to return to rule the world. This is the first such celebration since the fall of the Ba'athist regime in April. Shi'ite celebrations were banned under Saddam Hussein and followers of this Islamic sect were singled out for persecution. Devout followers thronged to the Karbala from Shi'ite cities throughout the country, many from the Shi'ite dominant south. Many people arrived in cars, others on foot, with some waving flags sporting the red, green and black colours of the family of the prophet Mohamed. Still others were chanting "yes, yes" to Iraq, not knowing that the young firebrand Shi'ite cleric Muqtada Al-Sadr was about to announce the formation of an Islamic state in Iraq.
It is no secret that Muqtada Al-Sadr refused to recognise Iraq's interim governing council (IGC); many other important Shi'ite leaders expressed the same opinion. But Al-Sadr was the only cleric to demand the establishment of an Islamic state, and he always remained critical of the occupation. His announcement with regard to his intentions for Iraq to become an Islamic state was made during his Friday sermon on 10 October. The speech began with the words "I would like to make an announcement to you, even though this may put me in grave personal danger," and continued with a description of the cabinet and ministries of the new government.
On the same day as this announcement, a second Shi'ite leader Ayatollah Mohamed Taqi Al- Muddersi, the founder of the Islamic Action Movement, expressed his concern over the move. In a press conference he told reporters of his fears that the situation in Iraq would worsen if the people were once again disappointed, and failed to achieve the freedom and stability they so desired. The current attacks on the occupying forces, he warned, are nothing compared to what may lie ahead.
The crowds on the street nevertheless remained jubilant. Abbas Ali from Nasseriya was confident of the young cleric's abilities and pledged his support to the new government. "We need a leader who can rebuild our country," he said.
But Mustafa Ali, an Al-Muddersi supporter, recommended leaving important decisions to the Ayatollahs, saying that Muqtada was simply too young for such responsibilities. And he pointed out the fact that the Shi'ite religious seminary Al- Hawzeh was willing to give the IGC enough time to prove itself. "And until it proves itself one way or the other, we can make no decisions."
Others agree with this statement. Dr Hazim Ammar from Kufa University maintains that the governing council should be allowed to show what it is capable of. "The council has appointed ministers and ... we need, more than anything, to unite the Iraqi people for the sake of the country."
The million or so devoted Shi'ites who travelled to Karbala for the imam's birthday nevertheless continued to enjoy the first free celebration of this sort in decades, despite the fact that their country remains occupied by foreign troops. On the day of Muqtada's announcement, however, a suicide bomber detonated a car bomb outside a Baghdad hotel which served as a base for many American companies as well as some members of the governing council. The daily Al-Sabah indicated that these attacks were being carried out by non-Iraqis.
But whoever is carrying out the attacks, the Iraqi people continue to suffer, as they wait for a miracle to save them and their country.
