More Responses to Peter Sluglett

Wafaa' Al-Natheema

...1 -We, Iraqis, do not identify ourselves as Sunnis and Shias, not even as Moslems or Christians, not before the occupation anyway. When asked about our identity we would say: Iraqis. The 1970 Iraqi Constitution, which is still valid, as we do not recognize a constitution written by the occupier, states that Iraq consists of two main ethnic groups: Arabs and Kurds, in addition to Turkmen and other groups. We do not consider a sect or a religion is an identity. There are different religions in Iraq: Islam, Christianity, Judaism, etc. Believers of these religions could be Arabs, Kurds, or any other ethnic groups. 2- Arabs constitute 80% of Iraqi people. 3- The aim of occupation was to isolate Iraq from its Arabic affiliation with the Arab world, so the Occupiers had to come out with a trick that make Arabs a minority not a majority. Thus Iraqi Arabs were divided into Shias and Sunnis. The word "Arab" was not mentioned once in the occupiers’ constitution. So Iraq was considered a non-Arab country. Now the occupiers and their media call the Iraqi Arabs who are Sunnis by sect, as "Sunni Arabs". While they never call the Iraqi Arabs who are Shias as "Shia Arabs", only Shia as if their sect is their identity. On the same level, consider that the occupier do not divide the Christian Arabs into Catholic, Orthodox, Protestants etc. Have you asked yourself once about the "real" reason for dividing the Arab Moslems only ? (...) 5 - 5- Another mistake, is that you supposed that Saddam was sectarian (...) Another fact you should know is that Saddam did not forbid Shia parties and organization only, but all religious parties including Sunni Islamic party. He was right of course, for you can see for yourself how religious parties have turned Iraq into: a backward Ayatollah state...

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