Victory News Magazine

The Role Of Muhammad Baqir Al-Sadr In Shi'a Political Activism  In Iraq From 1958 TO 1980  

Chapter Seven- Ashurra Commemorations Banned

In early 1977, the Ba’th regime took the boldest step yet to curb the Shi’a when it banned the annual ceremonies commemorating Imam Husayn’s martyrdom. The regime had tried but failed to prohibit them since 1970, especially in Najaf and in Karbala. That year, the Ba’th leadership was determined to use any means necessary to stop the traditional procession from Najaf to Karbala, an event that generates considerable religious fervour. Tens of thousands of Shi’a from all over Iraq participate in the pilgrimage, which usually takes four days to cover about fifty miles. The procession was seen by the regime as hindering their policy of secularism and as providing the religious authorities with popular support.

Banning the procession in 1977 provoked riots in Najaf. Organizers distributed leaflets that called on people to participate in defiance of the authorities to protect their religious rights. ⁽⁴³⁾  The public hearings organized by the Ba’th Party and the governor of Najaf did not ease the tension but rather precipitated chaos. ⁽⁴⁴⁾ An estimated thirty thousand people began their procession holding banners printed with verses from the Qur’an, such as "The power of God is above theirs" and "Victory shall come from God." ⁽⁴⁵⁾

Faced with this defiance, the regime first met with the leaders of the procession⁽⁴⁶⁾ and sought the help of Muhammad Baqir al-Hakim, who informed the Shi’a that the regime was willing to lift the ban on the procession if the rioters would stop chanting anti-government slogans. However, anti-Ba’thist sentiments ran so high by then that compromise was impossible. The government on its part mobilized a military brigade with tanks, helicopters, and fighter jets to block the way to the city of Karbala. ⁽⁴⁷⁾ Hundreds of demonstrators were able to get into the city, however, because many officers and soldiers were sympathetic to the cause and were unwilling to obey the government orders to fire on people chanting religious slogans. ⁽⁴⁸⁾ The government then mobilized the Ba’th Party security and police to suppress the procession in the streets of Karbala and to detain as many people as they could. Hundreds were imprisoned, and many were injured.

The government then formed a special revolutionary court (makamat al-thawra) headed by three high-ranking Ba’th Party leaders to try the defendants. ⁽⁴⁹⁾ Seven people were sentenced to death and fifteen, including Muhammad Baqir al-Hakim, to life imprisonment. The incident also caused a split within the Ba’th leadership itself. Some high-ranking members of the party judged the action unduly harsh and seemed hesitant to take strong action. An extremist group led by the Bakr-Saddam factions won by expelling the moderate group, including the members of the Special Revolutionary Court, from their government and party positions.

The regime suspected Sadr of having had a part in the demonstration. It had been well organized, which suggested that the Da’wa Party was behind it. Al-Hakim, the head of the group who negotiated on behalf of the regime with the rioters, was a disciple and personal representative of Sadr. His failure to gain concessions from the rioters whose links were with the Da’wa, the main Sadr organization, was one of the signs that made the regime suspect that Sadr led a behind-the-scenes conspiracy. The regime’s security forces detained Sadr and sent him to Baghdad for questioning, but released him when the people demanded it in order not to instigate another riot by the Hawza.

www.victorynewsmagazine.com

©All rights reserved 2005.
 VictoryNewsMagazine.com

Disclaimer