IRAQ: Iraqis offer Eid prayers for security after U.S. withdrawal

Record ID: 830709

  • Title: IRAQ: Iraqis offer Eid prayers for security after U.S. withdrawal
  • Date: 6th November 2011
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) UMM AHMED, AN IRAQI CITIZEN, SAYING: "The real Eid is when the U.S. troops pull out from Iraq and after that Iraq will be an independent country, God willing. Security will prevail in all over Iraq after the withdrawal and people will love each others, I think even sectarianism will fade away." PEOPLE TOURING MARKET YOUNG MEN CHECKING CLOTHES
  • Embargoed: 21st November 2011 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Iraq, Iraq
  • Country: Iraq
  • Topics: International Relations,Politics,Religion,Religion
  • Reuters ID: LVA9Y9TAZ2ZPFRVWL1DB3XEOG6WL
  • Story Text: Iraqis prayed for stability and better security for their country after the withdrawal of U.S. troops, as they prepared on Saturday (November 5) to celebrate Eid al-Adha, the Festival of Sacrifice.
    In the Arab Market in central Baghdad, people were buying new clothes for the event. Muslims world-wide will join with the pilgrims in Mecca, presently performing Haj, in the Eid celebration.
    Shoppers in the market who spoke to Reuters, focussed on the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq at the end of the year.
    "The real Eid is when the U.S. troops pull out from Iraq and after that Iraq will be an independent country, God willing. Security will prevail in all over Iraq after the withdrawal and people will love each others, I think even sectarianism will fade away," Umm Ahmed said.
    "Our biggest Eid is the pullout of U.S. troops from Iraq. The biggest Eid is the stability of Iraq and the biggest Eid is security and keeping people out of harm's way. This is our Eid, God willing," said another Iraqi, who did not give his name.
    The United States has about 40,000 troops in Iraq. U.S. President Barack Obama said last month that they will be withdrawn by Dec. 31, according to the terms of a 2008 bilateral security pact.
    Eid al-Adha is celebrated by Muslims as the commemoration of the Prophet Abraham's willingness to sacrifice everything for God, including the life of his son Ishmael.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register