Thursday, December 28, 2006
Arabic media round-up
The Buratha News Agency reports that a car bomb explosion at a crowded market outside the Imam Abu Hanifa Mosque in the Baghdad neighborhood of Adhamiya after sunset prayers Tuesday killed 20 people and injured 35 others. The agency notes that this explosion, which was confirmed by eyewitness accounts in Adhamiya, is the first of its kind since it appeared to target Sunni Muslims near the most important Sunni shrine and mosque in Iraq.
It concludes that it was either an accidental explosion of a car bomb prepared for another area in Baghdad, or that it was an attack by Al-Qaeda against mostly secular Sunnis in Adhamiya, who have been resisting the infiltration of jihadis in their neighbourhood. Islam Memo also reports the incident but it accuses "Safavids" of planting the bomb in the Sunni district. The Haqq Agency adds that unknown gunmen kidnapped 24 residents of Adhamiya from a Coaster bus at the Bab Al-Mu'adham bus station in central Baghdad.
Aswat Al-Iraq: Christians of the Maysan governorate, south of Iraq, celebrate Christmas at the Umm Al-Ahzan historical church in Amara, and the event was attended by representatives of different religious groups in the city, in addition to political parties and civil society organizations. Jalal Daniel Toma, leader of the Chaldean Christian community in Maysan told Aswat Al-Iraq that only 12 Christian families, with a total of 90 people, have remained in Amara, and one family in the town of Qal'at Salih, south of Amara. "The number of families that come to church is not like it used to be," said Reverend Emad Al-Banna, a Chaldean priest in Basrah. "Many families have left the city in search for safety and employment, but we are thankful to God because the church is full of believers."
Aswat Al-Iraq: Christians of the Maysan governorate, south of Iraq, celebrate Christmas at the Umm Al-Ahzan historical church in Amara, and the event was attended by representatives of different religious groups in the city, in addition to political parties and civil society organizations. Jalal Daniel Toma, leader of the Chaldean Christian community in Maysan told Aswat Al-Iraq that only 12 Christian families, with a total of 90 people, have remained in Amara, and one family in the town of Qal'at Salih, south of Amara. "The number of families that come to church is not like it used to be," said Reverend Emad Al-Banna, a Chaldean priest in Basrah. "Many families have left the city in search for safety and employment, but we are thankful to God because the church is full of believers."
Al-Banna also pointed out that the number of Christian families in Basrah is less than 500, while it used to be 1,050 in 2003, and 10,000 during the seventies of the last century. In Hilla, south of Baghdad, Reverend Matti Abdullah told Eye Media Network that Christians in the Babel governorate have cancelled celebrations and the Mass for Christmas and the New Year at the Mariam Al-Adhraa' (Virgin Mary) Church in Hilla because of the deteriorating security situation.
Shiite families ordered to leave homes by Mujahideen Squads
Tariq Karbala reports that Shi'ite families in the mixed Saidiya district, south of Baghdad, received leaflets signed by "Saraya Al-Mujahideen" (The Mujahideen Squads), ordering them to leave the district. Eyewitnesses from the Dhubat neighborhood said that signs such as "Deportation or demolition" were scribbled on several residences inhabited by Shia families in Saidiya. Unknown gunmen assassinated two brothers this morning in a market and three others yesterday, while residents say that over 40 people were killed over the last month in an organized campaign by militant Sunni groups. Tariq Karbala also reports that a mortar attack against Kadhimiya, north of Baghdad, killed two people and wounded four others.
Sunni food ration traders abducted
The Iraq News Network reports that food ration traders of the Sunni majority Adil and Jami'a districts, west of Baghdad, were abducted, allegedly by Mahdi Army militiamen, at the food depots in Iskan over the last three days. 21 traders were kidnapped Sunday, and another 17 on Monday, according to the website, which added that the traders were taken to the sports club in Iskan and then they were relocated to the Iskan shelter.
