Yesterday in Karbala, the young Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr let it be known that he would be “freezing” all activities of his Mahdi Army militia for six months. It remains to be seen whether the move will have any impact on the sectarian carnage in Iraq; some analysts simply believe that this is an attempt by al-Sadr to reassert his control over the group, which has become increasingly fractious and divided over recent months.
The Mahdi Army is merely the best known of the many militias and criminal gangs roaming Iraq, making violence an everyday reality for millions of Iraqis. The stories of the individuals and families caught up in such violence are usually lost in the horrific statistics that spew forth from the country almost every day. This is why we chose to publish this article by the Independent’s Kim Sengupta in the new issue of Prospect. Sengupta tells the story of the al-Hayalis, a middle-class family who were preparing to flee Iraq for Dubai when tragedy struck. Let us know your thoughts below.
A monstrous article. The middle classes can, however, escape often being able to raise a few thousand dollars. Although in this unhappy story a husband could not be saved.
The distance between Islamic extremism and criminality is narrowing and Iraq has been plunged into chaos, a governmental void, into which violent, religious tribalism can flourish.
This is the story of gangs and thugs and not about religious freedom fighters. Despicable. But what of the old regime? Hussein might have, over his 20 year disctatorship, annihilated 1-2m people. Whichever way you look at it, it’s bad news for the decent and ordinary people of Iraq.
Is it the West’s fault? I don’t think so. The situation shows the level of influence extremist militia have had, such as Al Queda, in creating factional violence, Shia against Sunni. The West simply opened the way by removing the valve control: Hussein.
The future? It takes a short time to unravel the social fabric and build hate. But it takes a long time to ensure that hate cannot be unravelled as with Israel and Lebanon. There is still time to separate Iraqi Muslim factions.
How? The absolute cooperation of border states and a well paid domestic military force. What might you end up with? Another dictator.
Anyhow, the US has its eyes on Iran. If it was worried about Iraq, then it is terrified of Iran. Why? Nuclear weapons.
To the al-Hayalis, my compassion. But they will not be back in Iraq for 10 years and they must now concentrate on making a new life, albeit, without a husband and father.
It is really hard for people in the United States to imagine what kind of life Nadia and her children will lead now without Mohammed.
People in the United States keep on complaining about the war, but when you personally know the family involved here–it is even harder to believe this has happened, but with everything going on there–there is so much unrest that one never knew how safe they would be. They lived in fear for some time now.
They were such a close knit and loving family. I know how much the children meant to both of them.
I just hope and pray they can find safety in the new place they will call home, and be able to build a new chapter in their life. I know it won’t be easy, after all Nadia loved her husband with all her heart and soul. They were sweethearts for many years, and probably still in love as much as when they were still in school together.
These people that did this to Mohammed really have to be monsters in order to carry out a task like that. A person in the United States wonders how things like that can happen. His life was cut short–he was supposed to be around to grow old with Nadia and see their children grow up to fine adults, just like Mom and Dad were.
I pray that Nadia will find comfort in knowing that so many feel her heartache with the loss of her beloved husband.
There are no words that can every express the sympathy in the loss of your loved one. Just know that you will always have the memories of happier times in your life, not the brutual way he was murdered.
Keep your faith–God be with you always
I really don’t know what to say except that we, the human race, can not just sit in safety while a whole population is taken hostage. there must be something we can do because if we were in their place we would wish somebody would do something.
this lady and her children definitely need support and counseling after the trauma they suffered. I would appreciate it if they writer puts me in touch with them (you can contact me by email to verify my intentions). Thank you for bringing such tragedies to our attention.
Well done on publishing this heart-rending but beautiful article.
Written beautifully with immense restraint in the face of tragedy, the story left me feeling not just sympathy for the devastated family, but also with a desire to do something: make political protest against the UK’s policy, offer the family hospitality, support Mohammed’s old employer the charity Merlin, try to live one’s own lfe moderately decently, even to have fun and enjoy life. I’ll try and do at least two of those.
When my son goes shortly to the Middle East to learn Arabic I hope he meets such decent people.
Mr. Mohammad (may he rest in peace) was my teacher at BIS, i knew him from grade 8 to grade 11.. i heard about this tragic event but never knew what exactly happened.. Anti Nadia i am really sorry about what has happened and would like to send my condolences to you and to all of Mr Hayalies family..
I am really speechless especially that this has become a normal phenomena in Iraq where people get kidnapped for “religious reason” while the truth is that it is only about the money.. May those who did this be Damned in life and in the after life and Inshalla the same for all their loves ones too.. they are animals that dont deserve this life, and should face not justice as they never gave it.
Mr hayaly i will always remember your smile and your energy, and may God ease the pain on his family.. im deeply sorry.
Sorry for anything offensive that i wrote but im speaking from my heart after and responding to what i read.