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Obama Brings Hope to African-Iraqis
January 30, 2009 2:47 PM
By AADEL RASHID, ABC News Baghdad
Despite the thousands of miles that separate the United States and Iraq’s port city of Basra, Iraq’s black minority eagerly celebrated the inauguration of President Barack Obama.
Hundreds of African-Iraqis whose ancestors were brought to Iraq from eastern Africa as slaves exchanged greetings after the inauguration ended. Iraq is home to an estimated 2 million African Iraqis, according to Salim Shaaban, a member of the Free Movement of Iraq.
They traditionally worked between the two cities of Basra and Wasit and lived in very bad conditions. Despite working long hours, they were paid nothing except for a few dates and some flour and this is widely believed to be the reason African-Iraqis rebelled against the Abbasid Caliph in Basra in the ninth century protesting against slavery.
The impact of that revolution still echoes today in the common saying, “Baad Kharab A Basra,” meaning, “it’s too late.” The saying was coined after the revolution and is used to express a sense of helplessness, because after the revolt by African-Iraqis, the latter destroyed Basra avenging their mistreatment by the Caliph.
About 1,100 years after that revolution, a glimpse of hope was reignited among African-Iraqis when the Free Movement of Iraq was established. It was the first political entity to call for the rights of black people.
Abdul Hussein Abdul Razak, the general secretary of the movement, told ABC News that the group’s movement was established in 2005 and focuses on ending racist discrimination against the African-Iraqis. Reports suggest that discrimination against African-Iraqis is still a problem in Iraq, with many claiming that they face problems at work because of their skin color.
But Jamal Ahmed, an Arab Iraqi resident of Basra, denied the existence of any such discrimination. “I grew up in Basra and I had friends of different colors, white and black, we didn’t notice or feel...any sort of discrimination,” he told ABC News. "I have a feeling that those [African-Iraqis] who claim they were oppressed are only addressing their speech to the Americans.”
His views were contradicted by Razak, who said that African-Iraqis in the city of Basra “are given the lowest jobs and none yet [have] acquired any position within the government.”
He emphasized the need to have someone to represent African-Iraqis in parliament as well as to hold provincial office. "Other members of my movement are also running for office in the provincial elections and we are looking forward for any position that we can get,” he said.
Eight candidates are running for office -- four men and four women -- Razak said, adding, “we believe in equality between male and female.”
Razak said Obama’s victory is a victory for all black people all around the world. He expressed his hope that Obama’s inauguration would have its effect on Iraq and would show the world that “there is really no difference between white or black, we are all human beings in the end.”
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January 30, 2009 in Aadel Rashid | Permalink | User Comments (8) | TrackBack (0)
Iraq’s Elections Provide New Temporary Jobs
January 26, 2009 1:24 PM
By AADEL RASHID, ABC News Baghdad
The growing fervor over the upcoming Iraqi provincial elections – scheduled for Jan. 31 – has created new temporary jobs all over the country.
It seems as if everything in Iraq has a fixed price: political parties now pay 75,000 dinars ($61) to each person who glues 35 posters on Baghdad’s walls, and some of the parties have started distributing “gifts” to secure votes. A female candidate from one of the so-called patriotic parties actually gave each member of a group of women she was meeting with 50,000 dinars ($43) and a dress as gifts just to ensure that she had their votes.
The elections were advertised through a variety of means, from traditional posters to cell phone text messages, TV and radio ads and on taxis that tour the city.
Previous instructions from the Baghdad Municipality allocating that certain billboards be placed in specific traffic intersections for election posters didn’t stop the poster-gluers from choosing whichever wall they liked. New posters promising better security have been glued on top of old ones insisting on the unity of Iraq.
Recent surveys of the Iraqi Labor Ministry mentioned that there are more than 2 million people unemployed in Iraq. Sabah Ghazi, a 19-year-old student, said he was offered the temporary job of gluing posters for the Iraqi Islamic Party but turned it down. Ghazi needs a job, but he refused, saying he had no faith in any of the candidates. “They are all liars. They promise you the best just to secure the vote, and after they get what they want they forget all what they had promised.”
Duha Ayad, a 35-year-old schoolteacher, said she had registered her name to be a monitor in one of Baghdad polling centers near her home. She said she has no faith in the candidates but applied for the job because she would be paid $300 for one day’s work.
Schools in Baghdad that have been chosen as polling centers have been reinforced by additional concrete walls and police to secure them from possible attacks after other polling centers were attacked by IEDs, in one instance wounding three policemen in Ghazaliya.
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January 26, 2009 in Aadel Rashid | Permalink | User Comments (1) | TrackBack (1)
From Car Bombs to Car Sales in Baghdad
November 20, 2008 12:18 PM
By Aadel Rashid and Vladimir Lozinski, ABC News Baghdad
Saad Haseeb, a 34-year-old camera-shop owner, is searching for a new car.
In one of Baghdad's many emerging car lots, he checked them out for the usual features. "I am looking for accessories, comfort, DVD player, plasma screens in the back, in a pimp-my-ride style," he said. “I don’t care about mileage. Petrol costs 40 cent per liter and with all the checkpoints, holes in the road and traffic jams, I would never get over 80km per hour anyway."
Despite the dangers of showing off wealth in Baghdad, Haseeb is keen to prove he has made it, even though such a high profile vehicle can draw the attention of gangsters and kidnap gangs who still operate “below the radar” here.
He also sees it as an investment. Iraq has an unusual car market; unlike in many other countries, where a car immediately loses value the moment it rolls out of the showroom, in Iraq, his car will be worth 10 percent more within two months because of the demand for new cars.
Last year, the Iraqi government banned the importation of models older than 2007 in an attempt to reduce the number of vehicles that jam the concrete walled streets here.
Waleed Alwan , a 42-year-old supermarket owner, loves the 2007 KIA Sportage he bought for $14,000. In order to register it, he had to buy a dilapidated 1973 Volkswagen for its registration plate. It is worth $2,500, 10 times the price of the car. The Iraqi government is building a factory to make new number plates. It has promised to have them available in the first quarter of 2009, but many Iraqi drivers, impatient to hit the road, are buying up old cars just for their number plates.
Under Saddam Hussein's regime the number of cars in Baghdad was estimated to be 1 million, according to the Iraqi traffic department. After five years of war, there are more than 3 million vehicles crammed on the city’s chaotic roads. The flow of secondhand cars that come in via Jordan and United Arab Emirates has now ebbed.
Despite the security situation and suffocating traffic jams, Iraqi car dealers are selling Hummers, GMCs, Suburbans, Jeeps and Land Cruisers. “There are many people wanting to buy a big new car despite the security risks,” said Riyadh Ali, a luxury car dealer in Baghdad. “Only rich people can afford to buy them. They cost between $23,000 and $58,000 but business is good.”
There are also people who are looking for a simple, practical solution to their needs.
“I bought my 2006, 3-liter GMC to carry my two wives and six children,” said Haider, who works as a driver. “I also work transporting people between Baghdad and Basra and it will need less maintenance.” A practical voice in this new consumer society.
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November 20, 2008 in Aadel Rashid | Permalink | User Comments (7) | TrackBack (3)
Baghdad Rocks!
October 29, 2008 7:45 AM
By AADEL RASHID, ABC News Baghdad
Just a few nights ago, Baghdad was rocking to more than the usual roadside bombs and mortars when some 220 heavy metal music fans gathered for Baghdad’s second heavy metal gig since the fall of Saddam’s regime in 2003.
The enthusiastic male and female fans packed into a small, local venue for more than two hours to hear the Baghdad band Brutal Impact knock out popular covers from the heavy metal stable, such as Slayer’s South of Heaven, Death’s The Philosopher and Metallica’s Nothing Else Matters.
Lateef, the band’s drummer, said that the gig was “awesome” because they managed to perform several difficult songs from some famous metal bands, for a very appreciative audience.
The other band members told ABC News that they were thrilled with the show, despite losing one million Iraqi dinars ($800) in compensation to the club venue after seven tables were broken during the concert. They added that they didn’t mind the financial loss because they had done the gig for the sake of the music not money and that they were now looking forward to performing in more shows in the future. Lateef, the drummer, said, “it feels like our gig represents the rebirth of heavy metal in Iraq”, adding that his dream was to see more bands in the country.
The concert faced many obstacles: Lateef received an anonymous, threatening phone call, and while distributing fliers for the gig, Aws Adnan and Mustafa Muhanna, the Band’s managers, were stopped by police who thought they were distributing anti-government material. Luckily, according to the managers, there was an officer present who could read and reassured his fellow officers as to the nature of the fliers.
Wameed, a 30-year-old pharmacist, who attended the event, said it was an amazing night and one which would hopefully be repeated soon, as it has been quite a while since Baghdad has had a heavy metal party. Wameed fondly recalled the good old days when the Baghdad metal scene was flourishing back in the 90’s. “I really couldn’t imagine that there was still an underground metal scene remaining here in Baghdad, I thought everyone had left,” he said.
The band sold 280 tickets to the show and despite the heavy traffic jams caused by the unseasonal rain storms, 220 of Baghdad’s most dedicated heavy metal fans braved the elements and omnipresent security risks to get to the show.
In the words of the band, what made their night, was to see their head-banging, loyal fans venting out their frustrations by banging their heads to some heavy metal tunes.
It was a full metal night!
October 29, 2008 in Aadel Rashid | Permalink | User Comments (76) | TrackBack (0)
Brutal Impact, an Iraqi Heavy-Metal Band, Hits the Stage
October 13, 2008 8:06 AM
By AADEL RASHID, ABC News Baghdad
Periods of musical silence in Baghdad are slowly being broken: The second heavy-metal gig since the fall of Saddam Hussein’s regime will hit the stage Oct. 24, performed by a band whose name appropriately reflects Iraq’s situation.
Brutal Impact consists of five members -- Lateef on drums, Mahmood on rhythm guitar, Muthana on vocal, Rami on lead guitar and Rafi on bass. Although the fragile security situation is still an obstacle, according to Lateef, the five band mates decided to go ahead with their gig no matter what.
Advertisements for the gig have been glued near CD stores in Baghdad to get the attention of rock music fans. The tickets, costing $12, will be sold at Hindreen Music shop, which is Baghdad’s guitar center, as well as at Babylon CD store.
The band will cover songs by popular bands like Metallica. Many rock fans have waited a long time for such a concert to vent their anger and frustration – what better way to do it other than head-banging among friends?!
The band members told ABC News that they are excited but nervous because of the tenuous security situation in Baghdad. Still, by performing they intend to show the world that there are many heavy-metal enthusiasts in Iraq, many of whom they hope will turn up to hear them play Oct. 24.
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October 13, 2008 in Aadel Rashid | Permalink | User Comments (26) | TrackBack (0)
Heavy Metal Rocks Baghdad
September 03, 2008 11:37 AM
By Aadel Rashid, ABC News, Baghdad
There is no stage for the three band members of Snake Bite. Mohammed Ali, the band’s creator and the talented lead guitarist, along with Mohammed Rafid on the bass and Lateef Ahmed, the long haired drummer, have to make do with the virtual stage of YouTube.
The security situation in Baghdad is such that they cannot make it out to any venues and if they did the audience would be minimal to non-existent. While things are getting better in Iraq, Baghdad is still not ready to host a heavy metal concert.
The band makes do with a virtual stage on YouTube, and they have built up quite a fan base. One of the videos posted by Mohammed -- or Moe, as he refers to himself -- was watched 54,000 times.
In the clip Moe played the notorious Guitar Master Canon Rock by Canon Rock which is a very complicated neo-classical arrangement by Johann Pachelbel that Moe adapted to heavy metal.
Mohammed Ali, the band’s “main man,” is a computer sciences student and a brilliant lead guitarist. Sitting in his room surrounded by heavy metal posters and sporting a T-shirt from the Finnish heavy metal band Children of Bodom, he explained to me how he was drawn to heavy metal music. He said he started off listening to Guns 'N Roses and then got into the heavier stuff, like Metallica. Moe's bandmates, old high-school chums, share his love of Metallica.
For them, heavy metal is the real deal, and it's all about teamwork in the band. Lateef said that the music is the only thing that explains what’s inside of him and it really explains the situation in Iraq -- the frustration and the anger.
All three of them took risks to play heavy metal music, but most of all Lateef. Members of the Shiite militia loyal to the cleric Moqtada al Sadr, known as the Jaysh Al Mahdi, came to his house and threatened him with death if he continued playing the drums. He had tried to soundproof his room with sand bags and blankets but clearly the sound had escaped and the militiamen came knocking on his door.
The other two band members stopped playing for a few years because it was so unsafe.
Lateef had been in a band before Snake Bite, called Amargi, but the band broke up when his partner fled the violence in Baghdad for Denmark. They also used the Internet to reach an audience. One posting was of a song called "The Wrath in Me" which describes their anger at the killing and bloodshed in Iraq.
Another problem the band faces is poor equipment; it is impossible in Iraq to buy the appropriate gear. Moe plays a Copy Ibanez Guitar with a tiny Yamaha AMP and Lateef paid $700 for substandard drums, while Mohammed Rafid is forced to make do with a rickety bass.
Iraqi society at large considers metalheads like Moe, Mohammed and Lateef outcasts and they are viewed with suspicion. Moe adds that sometimes people think they are pro-America because they wear black T-shirts with English writing on them and have goatee beards.
But fear of extremist groups is the main obstacle preventing Snake Bite from performing onstage. For now, YouTube will have be the e-stage for Iraq’s young rockers.
Click here to watch Snake Bite's lead guitarist in action.
September 3, 2008 in Aadel Rashid | Permalink | User Comments (21) | TrackBack (1)
