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Indybay Feature
Wed Aug 31 2005
Nearly 1000 Die in Stampede During Religious Ceremony
Al-A'emmah
On August 31st 2005, nearly one thousand people died in a
stampede triggered by rumours of a bomber among a massive crowd attending a religious ceremony at a Shia shrine in Baghdad.
While the government's imediate response was to call for unity in the face of the tragedy, many Iraqis blamed the government for the conditions that lead to the massive loss of life:
...everyone can tell who’s responsible of Al-A'emmah bridge disaster. "When the occupation forces, working side by side with the Iraqi governmental troops and paramilitary fighters, close all the bridges that lead to Al-Kathum Shrine in a day that everyone is expecting millions of pilgrims to come, everyone will tell you who’s responsible for the mass murder. When the A'emmah Bridge, which has been closed for the last 9 months by the occupation force, still has two feet-high concrete barriers placed in the way of pilgrims, everyone will tell you who’s responsible for the fall and death of the one thousand Iraqis. When hundreds of pilgrims fall in the river and die drowning because of the lack of emergency staff or river police boats, all of us should know who to blame. No, not Canada. Blame the US-led occupation for killing more Iraqis.
...
The US and Iraqi decision makers should be held responsible for this human tragedy in Baghdad. The minister of health asked for the resignation of both the ministers of interior and defense. As-Sadr movement supported the minister of health in his request too.
-Raed Jarrar: Katrina vs. Al-A'emmah
While the government's imediate response was to call for unity in the face of the tragedy, many Iraqis blamed the government for the conditions that lead to the massive loss of life:
...everyone can tell who’s responsible of Al-A'emmah bridge disaster. "When the occupation forces, working side by side with the Iraqi governmental troops and paramilitary fighters, close all the bridges that lead to Al-Kathum Shrine in a day that everyone is expecting millions of pilgrims to come, everyone will tell you who’s responsible for the mass murder. When the A'emmah Bridge, which has been closed for the last 9 months by the occupation force, still has two feet-high concrete barriers placed in the way of pilgrims, everyone will tell you who’s responsible for the fall and death of the one thousand Iraqis. When hundreds of pilgrims fall in the river and die drowning because of the lack of emergency staff or river police boats, all of us should know who to blame. No, not Canada. Blame the US-led occupation for killing more Iraqis.
...
The US and Iraqi decision makers should be held responsible for this human tragedy in Baghdad. The minister of health asked for the resignation of both the ministers of interior and defense. As-Sadr movement supported the minister of health in his request too.
-Raed Jarrar: Katrina vs. Al-A'emmah
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