- Title: IRAQ: Baghdad welcomes first big top circus since war
- Date: 31st October 2011
- Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) ACROBAT AND DOGS' TRAINER, HUDA MOHAMMED, SAYING: "Actually, we are very pleased because of the good reception that we've received from people. We are very happy in this country, and the people are also happy because of us."
- Embargoed: 15th November 2011 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Iraq, Iraq
- Country: Iraq
- Topics: Entertainment
- Reuters ID: LVA4836MUQV88R2HZA27OUG5EWZ2
- Story Text: For some in the world, the circus coming to town is a routine frequently billed as the Greatest Show on Earth -- a chance to see sword swallowers and tricky trapeze artists dazzle and amaze.
But in Baghdad, it's more than that. It's a chance to return some sort of normality to a country that hasn't welcomed the circus in nearly a decade.
Dozens of Iraqi families gathered outside circus umbrella near al-Jaddriya lake in central Baghdad to the Umbrella Circus show, the first since the 2003 U.S. invasion that unleashed widespread violence that has slowly ebbed away over the last three years.
Though, unlike the advertisements for the show, there were no lions and tigers, and the circus snake was unwell, the big top still brought acrobats on high-swinging trapezes, magic tricks and fire displays, as well as a sword swallower.
The head of the circus troupe, Mohammed Abdulstar, said the importance of bringing this show to Baghdad should not be underestimated.
"We've had a good response from Iraqis who are so eager for any kind of entertainment and culture, because they've been deprived of the circus for long time. Baghdad has not hosted a circus for about fifteen years, so we were welcomed by Iraqis who eagerly attended circus show, Iraqis are good and they love the circus," he said.
Most of the performers are from other countries, but there was one Iraqi performing magic tricks.
"Before we came here, we were very scared. When I wanted to form a (circus) team, I invited acrobats from different countries, but most of them rejected the invitation because of reports saying Iraq was a dangerous place with a deteriorating security situation. But when we came here we found it was the contrary, the condition is calm and the security situation is stable. The acrobats told their families and friends via the internet that the situation is different from what the media portrays in their countries,'' added Abdulstar.
Violence has decreased dramatically in the last few years, but Iraq is still plagued by daily bombings and other attacks by Sunni insurgents and Shi'ite militias.
Huda Mohammed, a dog trainer and acrobat, said she was happy for the Iraqis who came to watch their performance.
"Actually, we are very pleased because of the good reception that we've received from people. We are very happy in this country, and the people are also happy because of us," she said.
Iraqis have suffered for decades from war and sanctions, and for a long time have been deprived of entertainment like this.
According to Ibrahim, this is the first chance that he and other young Iraqis like him have had to enjoy themselves.
"The atmosphere is very nice and it is a new experience that we've not seen before. It's the first of its kind in Iraq, this is the first time for us to go, I remember going (to something like this) as a child. So something like this is a first for me after such a long time. We've had fun, this is the only outlet of enjoyment that we have," he said.
For another young boy, Ali Mohammed, there was one part of the show that stood out in particular.
"We enjoyed the show, and the best part was when the Arab acrobat juggled rings. The circus is very nice and this is the first time it's been in Baghdad," he said.
Earlier this year the local government in the southern city of Basra shut down the Umbrella Circus just a few days after it opened, when authorities from the government department of Shi'ite endowments ruled that the land on which the circus was set up could not be used in a way that violated Islamic Sharia law.
But for many in Baghdad, this circus is the chance to take one more step towards a more every day life. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None