Iraqi Refugees Shed Sectarian Violence
October 13th, 2007It was actually refreshing to read some good news about Iraqi refugees in Syria and in Jordan. The phenomena of Iraqi refugees putting aside sectarian differences in the spirit of helping each other doesn’t seem to be in pockets of isolated cases. They are putting them aside because they cannot trust non-Iraqis and want to be less vulnerable to sections of society who intend to profit off of their dilemma. It sounds like they all maintain their different identities and it does sound like the creation of an Iraqi society outside of Iraq. Shia’a are marrying Sunna’a and families are grouping together, even with the Kurdish. I suppose it is not unusual to find a cross section of Iraqi demographics maintaining a household under one roof. Not being able to go home right now and with a future that is a bit fuzzy right now, it seems that they are making the best of their situation. If only they could do that in Iraq. Anyway, please read this story.
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This is why Iraq should not be divided!!! In reference to a previous post ‘Fractionalizing Iraq – Is this a good move?’.
This is why I am posting so many articles from different situations with regards to the same people. Ok… How would you or someone else propose to duplicate what is happening onto a grander scale, such as in Iraq? I am just trying to see if folks can loop these many facets together.
Food for thought before you or someone else answers- the refugees have nobody but their own to depend on (trust factor), even with their diferences, they are familiar with each other (same dialects, same cities) and sort of being forced to rely on one another for safety and support (fosters tearing down mental walls).
Shia and Sunna and been intermarrying in Iraq for quite a while. Many families in Baghdad are mixed sect, it’s part of the reason why so many were forced to leave the city, they couldn’t don’t have anywhere to go. I don’t see how this is good news at all. Do you honestly think Iraqis don’t want to live together and they suddenly did when they left Iraq? They do, just the crazies and the militias won’t let them.
How is it good news that over 2 million of them had to leave the country to not die and many more would but can’t either for financial reasons or because all of their neighbours have now closed their borders to Iraqis, that most of them are not permitted to work and have no future whatsoever and their kids have been out of school for years?
Exactly.
Another important point Nadia mentions, the families of ‘mixed-sect’, what of them if these divisions come in place? Where do they belong? Or will they be another minority that will have to fight for its security and freedom.
Stop being a black cloud when I was just merely pointing out a glimmer of sunshine in a bleak world, please. I am fully aware of what the refugees are going through, as well as those who remain behind in Iraq.
If what I posted is not good news and if what I posted could not be a hope of peaceful coexistence, working together and putting aside differences, then please come up with something greater.
If these divisions of three separate autonomous regions come into place, it would be the same as if one was to travel from New York, to Jersey or Pennsylvania. Three separate states, yet still united under one banner. How can the rights of the people be guaranteed? It needs to be addressed up front and not after the fact. I do not think that Mr. al-Hakim is stupid to what is happening, hence his call for “ALL” Iraqi people to join together and to work on a peaceful plan of coexistence. If he was anti-Kurd or anti-Sunna’a, I don’t think he would be calling for all Iraqis to unite. He sees where al-Sadr has failed- concentrating on just the southern sector and with issues that are strictly Shia’a.
I’m not trying to be a ‘black cloud’ and this is certainly anything but a glimmer of sunshine. I just dont understand how on earth it could be divided up and run in the same way as the USA, if it is based on sects. We have to be realistic, not just latch onto the first thing that appears hopeful. We have to at least try to examine to situation and the consequences properly. That is all I am attempting to do.
But this article, I think is great, it shows us that Iraqis can be united. This is what we need to pay attention to and this is the reason I think the idea of a divided one is unnecessary.
Tamara, that’s all I was trying to show- that Iraqis can be united. I understand that it is a sensitive issue.