Posted on 12/14/2005 10:15:37 AM PST by jmc1969
BAGHDAD, Iraq - Angry Shiites marched Wednesday and set fire to the offices of a secular politician after a Sunni Arab guest criticized Iraq's Shiite religious leaders during an Al-Jazeera talk show.
Al-Rubaei made his comments during the "Opposite Direction" program shown Tuesday night and Wednesday afternoon on Al-Jazeera.
Hours later, thousands of people chanted anti-Al-Jazeera slogans in the streets of the Baghdad neighborhoods of Sadr City and Karradah, and in the southern cities of Najaf and Karbala.
The demonstrations, which turned into political rallies, threatened to further polarize Thursday's parliamentary elections after angry Shiites in the southern city of Nasiriyah set fire to a building housing the offices of former interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi. Allawi, a secular Shiite, has campaigned on a platform calling for national reconciliation.
"The headquarters was attacked by militiamen who broke inside and set fire to the building. This is a terrorist act that contradicts democracy and this is the reason we are calling for eliminating the militia groups in Iraq," Allawi spokesman Thaer al-Naqib told The Associated Press.
Several Shiite groups still maintain armed militias. "Those militiamen consider the political process as a threat to them and they want to stop this process. Those militia groups are working against the hopes of the Iraqi people and they should be finished," al-Naqib said.
(Excerpt) Read more at twincities.com ...
Freedom of expression is a hallmark of democracy and the very foundation of Islam makes it an uphill battle for them. It's possible and I'm glad we're there, but it will not happen overnight. So no, Dems, we just can't pull out now. But we have to realize that it will not be easy or quick. Nor was it quick and easy in our country. We didn't start out with the first amendment freedoms we enjoy today; in fact, nearly 45% of our existence took place before this amendment was passed. That's a sobering thought.
The Islamic Parties version of democracy is to do anything to win including killing your opponet and/or his supporters.
They really don't get it.
rabid
Baghdad Mayor Is Ousted by a Shiite Group and Replaced, 08/09/05
Armed men entered Baghdad's municipal building during a blinding dust storm on Monday, deposed the city's mayor and installed a member of Iraq's most powerful Shiite militia. The deposed mayor, Alaa al-Tamimi, who was not in his offices at the time, recounted the events in a telephone interview on Tuesday and called the move a municipal coup d'état. He added that he had gone into hiding for fear of his life.
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