Iraq added another arrow, this time, a religious one, to its anti-war quiver when religious leaders drawn from the major mosques in Iraq, both Shia and Sunni, as well as a small group of Christians put aside their differences and gathered for a peace march to the UN headquarters here yesterday.
Shouting slogans that mixed religious symbolism with the mandatory paeans of praise for the Iraqi President Saddam Hussain, the Islamic leaders in their flowing robes and colourful headgear were joined by hundreds of students from the many seminaries across the country.
Baghdad's famed Abu Nawas street, known once for its restaurants and night life was full of banners denouncing a war that many of the marchers believed was both inevitable and terrible.
"We know that the war is coming, so we are here to plead with the U.S. to stop this attack on the Iraqi people. It will only bring about needless destruction, families will be sundered, and worse, it could even set one religion against another, even in Iraq where there is no religious persecution, where we have remained secular. It could happen. It could turn into another Lebanon," said a student.
The seminary student in his simple white turban, refused to be identified. But as he melted back into the ranks, to the approving nods of his fellow students, they quickly joined in the chorus "there is only one God and He is Allah, America is against God."
Framed by the imposing blue and gold dome of the Ramadan mosque, the multi-denominational march fanned out onto the stretch of road that cuts through the heart of the city's central business district.
The speeches were similar to the Friday prayers from the most powerful imams of the city, one bystander said, pointing to the presence of Sheikh Abdul Kader Al Gailani and Sheikh Subaihi Al Hiti.
Organised by the Ministry of Awqaf, many of the professors from Baghdad's prestigious Islamic University were also present with Professor Lebed Ibrahim Ahmed, professor for Islamic studies insisting that the unity that overrides Iraqi society would survive even a war.
"People know the benefits of maintaining religious harmony and will do everything to see that unity is not affected. The last attack that pitted one religion against another took place some 800 years ago," he said, dismissing the so called Shia revolt in the southern cities of Najaf and Karbala soon after the '91 war as the "work of miscreants."
"They were ill-educated people who did not quite know what they were doing, egged on by the Jews, the Americans and the British. Once they were challenged, they were defeated," he added.
Reports at the time said that the uprising was put down brutally and that the two Shia shrines that were damaged were restored at great cost by the Iraqi president. Ahmed also explained that despite being men of the cloth, the participants of the march came from a militaristic tradition.
"We have a long martial history and we cannot deny this, it's part of our nationhood, it's part of us," he said, indicating that despite being religious leaders, the men that gathered yesterday would not hesitate to take up arms if necessary.
Father Samir, one of a small group of Christians, who stood out in their sombre black suits and collars, said he too feared 'another Lebanon' and that many of the people in his congregation in Mosul, some 800 families strong were worried about the war.
The Christians who gathered at the square were from many sects Cathloics as well as the ancient Nestorians, Orthodox and Chaldeans.
A surprise inclusion was one of two Indian priests, both from the Syrian Orthodox Church in Trichur, Kerala, one of whom Father Joju Anton has been sent by his church in Kerala which has ancient links with St Thomas's Chaldean church, who founded Christianity in India.
Father Joju, who broke into Malayalam said he was here to make a positive statement about peace, that he, like all the Christians who had joined in, were against war and all the horrors it would bring.
"I've only been here two years so I haven't seen any bombing like they have, but I am one of them, I eat their food, live with them and pray with them, I can only hope there will be no war."
Gulf News 2003
