IRAQ: THOUSANDS OF IRAQI SHI'ITES FLOCK TO BAGHDAD FOR COMMEMORATION OF MUSA AL IBN JA'AFR AL KADHIM

Record ID: 646612

  • Title: IRAQ: THOUSANDS OF IRAQI SHI'ITES FLOCK TO BAGHDAD FOR COMMEMORATION OF MUSA AL IBN JA'AFR AL KADHIM
  • Date: 23rd September 2003
  • Summary: (W4)BAGHDAD, IRAQ (SEPTEMBER 22, 2003) (REUTERS) 1. HAS TILT DOWN PAN THOUSANDS ARRIVE AT SHRINE OF AL KADHIM MOSQUE 0.23 2. HAS WORSHIPPERS BEATING THEMSELVES ON WAY TO MOSQUE; HAS WORSHIPPERS BEATING DRUMS 0.37 3. HAS WOMEN WORSHIPPERS DRESSED IN BLACK OUTSIDE MOSQUE; HAS MORE OF WOMEN BEATING THEMSELVES 0.48 4. HAS PORTRAIT OF MUSSA KADHIM; LAS ARMED RELIGIOUS MILITIA ON ROOF 0.59 5. (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SAYED ALI AL WAEDH, IMAM KADHIM SHRINE MOSQUE SAYING "We are here at the Al Kadhim shrine and send our condolences to all Shiites for the martyrdom of our leader, Imam Musa Ibn Ja'afr. We hope God will protect our country from all its enemies." 1.29 6. MV MORE OF WORSHIPPERS BEATING DRUMS IN THE STREET DURING PROCESSION 1.34 7. SLV WORSHIPPERS BEATING THEMSELVES DURING PROCESSION; MV WORSHIPPERS DURING PROCESSION PLAYING DRUMS AND BEATING THEMSELVES; MV WORSHIPPERS CARRYING CEREMONIAL BURIAL STRETCHER; MV PEOPLE BEATING THEMSELVES (5 SHOTS) 2.05 11. AV HELICOPTERS FLYING OVER THE MOSQUE 2.26 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 8th October 2003 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: BAGHDAD, IRAQ
  • Country: Iraq
  • Reuters ID: LVA1HYZ832YNQ6ZF2HE65Y7T1CE1
  • Story Text: Thousands of Iraqi Shiites flock to Baghdad for the
    commemoration of Musa al Ibn Ja'afr al Kadhim.

    Thousands of Iraqi Shiite worshippers streamed to
    Baghdad's Kadhim shrine on Monday (September 22, 2003) for a
    festival commemorating Imam Mousa al Kadhim, a direct
    descendant of Prophet Mohammed who was killed by Sunnis in
    the eighth century.

    As is customary for Shiites at religious processions,
    the worshippers beat themselves with chains on the way to
    the shrine as they flocked to the capital from all over the
    country.

    The story of Muslim followers of Imam Musa Kadim, who
    believe he was the rightful successor of the Prophet rather
    than the Caliph King, reached a climax under the reign of
    Harun ar-Rashid.

    Hundreds of people were killed and Imam Musa arrested.

    He was brought to Baghdad to be executed. Harun then
    changed his mind and released him at the last minute,
    reportedly because of a dream he had. But Imam Musa was
    later re-arrested and spent six years in prison where he
    died of poisoning after 35 years as Imam.

    His body was publicly displayed by Harun on the bridge
    of Baghdad to dispel rumours that the Imam had escaped and
    was living in secret.

    Imam Musa al Kadhim, known as 'The one who swallows his
    anger', was buried by his followers at al Kadhimiya near
    Baghdad.

    Shi'ites are now practising their rituals in public for
    the first time in many years.

    Persecution under Saddam's Sunni-dominated government
    reached a height in the Shi'ite uprising which followed the
    1991 Gulf War which was brutally crushed, killing
    thousands.

    Now U.S. policy makers are trying to balance Shi'ite
    aspirations with those of Sunnis, whose support is a
    necessary ingredient of a stable Iraq.


  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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