Sri Lanka arrests Muslim convert/ஸாராஹ் மாலினி பெரேரா என்ற முஸ்லிம் பெண்

Part 01

A Sri Lankan woman who converted from Buddhism to Islam has been arrested by the authorities on suspicion of anti-state activities.

The woman, who is resident in the Gulf state of Bahrain, had recently written two books about her conversion.

They were written in Sinhala, the language of Sri Lanka's ethnic majority, who are mostly Buddhists.
She was on holiday in Sri Lanka when she was detained and is now being held in a police station.
The national police spokesman told the BBC he believed there were allegations that she was involved in anti-government or anti-state activities.

He did not know the details but remarked that although her name was Sinhalese, she was acting and wearing clothes in the manner of a Muslim woman.

Unconfirmed reports say that family members have tried to send lawyers but they have not been able to take the case to court - and that she has been detained under emergency laws.

The police spokesman told the BBC's Sinhala service that he did not have enough details to comment on the allegations. The police at the local police station where she is held have refused to comment on the case.

Books published

A report in the Bahrain-based Gulf Daily News named her as Sarah Malanie Perera and said she had lived in the Gulf state since the mid-80s.

But it said she converted to Islam in 1999 and that her parents and sisters also made the conversion.

The newspaper quoted her sister, also a Bahrain resident, as saying she was apprehended while trying to send books out of Sri Lanka through freight. A member of staff was linked to a Buddhist nationalist party and reported the book to police.

A member of the Muslim community in Sri Lanka said that Ms Perera had no pre-existing connection with Sri Lankan Muslims and the local community had nothing to do with the book over whose contents she was arrested.

He said she had been under arrest since Monday and had not yet been produced in court.

The BBC's Charles Haviland in Colombo says that Buddhist nationalism is currently an influential force in Sri Lanka and the party in question is part of the government coalition.

Sri Lankan Muslims are regarded as the third ethnic group in Sri Lanka occupy a respected and prominent position in society. But accounts of conversions from Buddhism to Islam are rare.

news.bbc
Part 02:

Arrest of Muslim author 'illegal'

BBC Sinhala News MP3 Fomat: Sandesiya

Lawyers for the Muslim author arrested on charges of anti-state activities accuse Sri Lankan authorities of illegal arrest and detention.

Alex Fernando, counsel for Sarah Malani Perera, told BBC Sandeshaya that he is yet to be informed of the reasons for the arrest.

"She too has not been informed of any reasons for the arrest," he said.

Mrs. Perera, who converted from Buddhism to Islam, was forced to remove the face veil by the officers at Mirihana police station, he said.

A family friend who wished to be anonymous told the BBC that "they had made a video out of it and they were taking photographs against her will."

Religious harassment

But the police spokesman said that he was not aware of such harassment.

Superintendant of Police (SP) Prishantha Jayakody told BBC Sandeshaya that Mrs. Perera has been detained under a detention order (DO) for anti-state activity.

"If there is an accusation against the police, they can lodge a complaint with senior police authorities," he said.

But Mr. Fernando says he is yet to see any documentary evidence of such an order despite repeated requests from the police.

Mrs. Perera, who is a resident in the Gulf state of Bahrain, had recently written two books on her conversion, in Sinhala, the language of Sri Lanka's ethnic majority who are mostly Buddhists.

She was detained when on a three-month holiday in her country of origin.

BBC's Charles Haviland in Colombo says that Buddhist nationalism is an influential force in Sri Lanka and the party in question is part of the government coalition.

Sri Lankan Muslims are regarded as the third ethnic group here and occupy a respected and prominent position in society. But accounts of conversions from Buddhism to Islam are rare.

BBC

Part 03:

பௌத்த மதம் இஸ்லாம் பற்றி ஒப்பிட்டு புத்தகம் எழுதியதற்காக போலீஸ் தடுப்பு காவலில் ஸாராஹ்

ஸாராஹ் மாலினி பெரேரா என்ற முஸ்லிம் பெண்


ஸாராஹ் மாலினி பெரேரா என்ற முஸ்லிம் பெண் இலங்கையை சேர்ந்த பௌத்த மத குடும்பத்தில் பிறந்து பௌத்த குடும்பத்தில் வளர்ந்த சிங்கள இன பெண் இவர் இஸ்லாத்தை டிஸ்கவர் இஸ்லாம் நிகழ்ச்சிகளின் ஊடாக் கற்றதன் மூலம் 1999 இல் இஸ்லாத்தை ஏற்றுக்கொண்டார் இவர் தற்போது பஹ்ரைன் நாட்டின் பாடசாலை ஒன்றின் ஆசியராக தொழில் புரிகிறார்

இவர் விடுமுறையில் இலங்கை வந்த போது தான் எழுதி முடித்திருந்த இஸ்லாம் மற்றும் ஏனைய மதங்கள் பற்றி ஒப்பிட்டு ஆய்வு கொண்ட இரண்டு புத்தகங்களை சிங்கள மொழியில் பதிப்பு செய்துள்ளார் இந்த புத்தகங்கள் பௌத்த மதத்தை நித்திப்பதாக கூறி மிரிஹான போலீஸ் நிலையத்தில் தடுத்து வைக்கபட்டுள்ளார்

இவரின் சகோதரி மரியம் இது பற்றி கூறுகையில் இவர் இஸ்லாத்தை தழுவி கொண்ட கால பகுதியில் இருந்து இஸ்லாத்தையும் மற்ற மதங்களையும் ஒப்பிட்டு நூல் ஒன்றை எழுதிகொண்டிருந்தார் என்றும் எழுதும் பணி கடந்த வருடம் நிறைவடைந்ததாகவும் -2009 - விடுமுறையில் இலங்கை சென்ற ஸாராஹ் மாலினி பெரேரா தனது சிங்கள மொழி புத்தகங்களான ஒன்று From Darkness to Light இருட்டில் இருந்து வெளிச்சத்துக்கு என்ற தலைப்பிலும் இரண்டாவது Questions and Answers கேள்விகளும் பதில்களும் என்ற தலைப்பிலும் எழுதியிருந்தார் அவற்றை புத்தகங்களாக பதிப்பு செய்து அவற்றில் ஒரு பகுதியை கார்கோ முகவர் ஒன்றின் ஊடாக அனுப்பும் வேளையில் குறித்த கார்கோ முகவர் நியையத்தின் உரிமையாளர் போலீசாரை அழைத்து இந்த புத்தகங்கள் லார்ட் புத்தாவுக்கு எதிரானவை என்று முறையிட்டுள்ளார் இவர் தீவிர இனவாத அமைப்பான சின்ஹல உரிமையவுடன் தொடர்பு கொண்டவராக இருக்கலாம் என்று மரியம் கூறியுள்ளார்

மேலும் இவர் கூறும்போது குறித்த இனவாதிகள் ஸாராஹ்வின் வழக்கை நீதிமன்றத்துக்கு பாரம் கொடுபதற்கு முன்னர் 24 மணித்தியாலங்கள் போலீஸ் காவலில் வைக்க போலிசை நிற்பந்திபதாகவும் கூறியுள்ளார் ,

இந்த விடையம் தொடர்பாக இஸ்லாமிய அமைப்புகள் , முஸ்லிம் அரசியல் வாதிகள் ,பொது அமைப்புகள் , மனித உரிமை அமைப்புகள் தலையிட்டு ஸாராஹ்வின் விடுதலைக்கு உடன் உதவ வேண்டும்

ஸாராஹ் ஆசிரியர் தொழில் புரிவதற்கு முன்னர் பஹ்ரைன் நாட்டின் நிலை கொண்டுள்ள அமெரிக்கன் கடல் படையில் கணக்காலராகவும் தொழில் புரிந்துள்ளார் இவரின் பெற்றோர் சகோதரிகள் அனைவரும் வெவ்வேறு கால கட்டங்களில் இஸ்லாத்தை ஏற்றுக்கொண்டுள்ளனர் இவரின் குடும்ப உறுபினர்களான தந்தை நோர்பெத் பெரேரா , தாய் சோமா, சகோதரிகள் பட்மா , ரஸா. பட்மணி ,மாலினி இவர்கள் குடும்பமாக பஹ்ரைன் நாட்டில் வசிகின்றார்கள் ஸாராஹ்வின் தந்தை சில மாதங்களுக்கு முன்னர் வபாதாகியுள்ளார்.

மேற்கண்ட தகவல்கள் www.gulf-daily-news.com என்ற பஹ்ரைன் நாட்டின் இணையத்தளத்தில் இன்று வெளியான விபரங்கள்

Source: Lanka Muslim (Plus)

Nationalism: The Rotten Roots of Racism

The recent incident in the U.S. involving Henry Louis Gates Jr. highlights the racial and ethnic tensions that still exist in Western societies. Nationalistic and patriotic bonds existed prior to the revelation of Islam. Allah (swt) has established the Islamic Aqeedah as the bond between Muslims. Recent history has seen the re-introduction of nationalism and patriotism into the Muslim Ummah. We must think, feel and act only according to the Quran and Sunnah and not according to family/tribal traditions or customs relating to geographical locations.

In mid July of this year, Henry Louis Gates Jr, a Harvard University professor and documentary film maker returned home from a trip to China to find his front door jammed. He and his driver attempted to gain entrance by forcing the door open. A neighbor passing by called police reporting a possible break-in. The ensuing confrontation resulted in Gates being arrested and charged with disorderly conduct. Prosecutors later dropped all the charges. The incident spurred an exchange of views about race relations and law enforcement throughout the United States. The arrest eventually led to an invitation to Henry Louis Gates Jr. and Sgt. James Crowley (the arresting officer) by President Barack Obama for a "beer" to discuss race relations.

Far from being isolated events, racial tensions have existed in both the US and Europe for quite some time. For example:

*L.A. Riots – In 1992, riots broke out in L.A. after white police officers were acquitted of all wrong doings in what was perceived to be a racially motivated beating of Rodney King, an African-American, whom they had stopped for speeding. 53 people died, thousands were injured and damages were estimated at $1 billion.

*French Riots – In 2007 two teenagers of a North African descent were riding a motorcycle when they were rammed by a police car and left to die. Due to simmering ethnic tensions between the immigrants and the police, riots erupted and clashes between police and the immigrants ensued. Many were injured and property was damaged.

Unfortunately, xenophobic attitudes are also present in the Muslim world. Too often do we see racial, ethnic and tribal tensions exist between Muslims living in one area versus another. Therefore, it is important for us to understand racism and tribalism - where they originate and how to solve them.

Nationalism: The Root of Racism

Racism is defined as, “a belief or doctrine that inherent differences among the various human races determine cultural or individual achievement, usually involving the idea that one's own race is superior and has the right to rule others.” Tribalism is defined as, “strong loyalty to one’s own tribe.” Racism and tribalism can exist in a society and between people when nationalism and nationalistic ideas are used by individuals to identify and relate to each other.

Nationalism is a bond between people that is based on family, clan or tribal ties. Nationalism arises among people when the predominant thought they carry is that of achieving domination. It starts from the family, where one member asserts his authority to achieve leadership in the affairs of the family. Once achieved, the individual extends his leadership to the wider family. In this way, the families would also try to achieve leadership in the community they reside in. The next stage is that of tribes competing with each other, all trying to dominate others in order to enjoy the privileges and the prestige that comes with authority.

Prior to the message of Islam, the Arabian Peninsula was split along tribal lines. People living in a tent or a house formed a family, a group of families made a clan and a group of clans formed a tribe. Each tribe had its own set of rules and regulations according to which the people were governed. All activities were confined within this structure and anyone stepping outside these limits was reprimanded. The strong loyalties to the tribe often led to inter-tribal rivalries, often culminated in physical clashes, which led to tribal wars over trivial issues.

Islam Eradicates Nationalism

The tribal structure of Arabian society which existed for centuries was eradicated by the arrival of Islam. Islam invited people to believe in Allah (swt) – The One True Creator of the heavens and the earth and everything in them. Allah (swt) revealed:

“And they were commanded not, but that they should worship Allah, and worship none but Him Alone, and perform As-Salat and give Zakat: and that is the right Deen.” [TMQ 98:5]

Islam commanded loyalty to the Deen rather than to the tribe, as Allah (swt) revealed:

“Oh you who believe! Take not for Auliya' your fathers and your brothers if they prefer disbelief to Belief. And whoever of you does so, then he is one of the Zalimun. Say: If your fathers, your sons, your brothers, your wives, your kindred, the wealth that you have gained, the commerce in which you fear a decline, and the dwellings in which you delight are dearer to you than Allah and His Messenger, and striving hard and fighting in His Cause, then wait until Allah brings about His Decision (torment). And Allah guides not the people who are Al-Fasiqun.” [TMQ 9:23-24]

Ties between the Muslims were therefore based on the Aqeedah of Islam. All Muslims were treated exactly the same, irrespective of their family background or race. Anyone who declared the Shadahah became part of the Muslim Ummah.

RasulAllah (saw) clearly prohibited ‘asabiyyah (nationalism): “He is not one of us who calls of ‘asabiyyah or who fights for ‘asabiyyah or who dies for ‘asabiyyah.” [Abu Dawud]

“He who calls for ‘asabiyyah is as if he bit his father’s genitals.” [Mishkat al-Masabih]

On one occasion, a non-Muslim youth in the Islamic State was sent to incite remembrance of the battle of Bu’ath that took place between the Aus and Khazraj (the 2 tribes that formed the Ansar) prior to Islam reaching them. The poetry that the youth recited stirred strong emotions and as a result, there was a call to arms. When the news reached RasulAllah (saw), he rushed to the situation and said, “Oh Muslims, remember Allah, remember Allah. Will you act as pagans while I am present with you after Allah has guided you to Islam, and honoured you thereby and made a clean break with paganism; delivered you thereby from disbelief; made you friends thereby?” When the Aus and Khazraj heard this they wept and embraced each other as brothers. Allah (swt) then revealed:

“Oh you who believe! Fear Allah as He should be feared and die not except in a state of Islam And hold fast, all of you together, to the Rope of Allah, and be not divided among yourselves, and remember Allah's Favour on you, for you were enemies one to another but He joined your hearts together, so that, by His Grace, you became brethren, and you were on the brink of a pit of Fire, and He saved you from it. Thus Allah makes His Ayat clear to you, that you may be guided.” [TMQ 3:102-103]

The bond of the Islamic Aqeedah continued to be the basis of the relationship between the Muslims for over a thousand years. Islam therefore united people irrespective of their colour, race, status or language. It was this bond that provided strength and might to the Islamic State.

Re-injecting ‘Asabiyyah

After failing to defeat the Muslims in the Crusades, Britain and France along with the United States focused their attention to separate Muslims from Islam. One of these means was to re-inject nationalism into the Muslim Ummah.

Using Missionaries who operated in the Uthmani Khilafah, there were many attempts (and failures) to try and establish associations and organizations of members belonging exclusively to one ethnicity (tribe) – such as “Arab” or “Turk”. In 1857, the missionaries were successful in establishing the Syrian Scientific Association and in 1875 the Secret Association was established in Beruit. These organizations, would promote “Arabism” and its related pre-Islamic culture while criticizing the Uthmani Khilafah and accusing the “Turks” of stealing the Khilafah from the “Arabs”. In this manner, Arab nationalism was re-introduced into the Muslim Ummah. By the turn of the 20th century, the fever of nationalism had spread to all corners of the Islamic State.

When the Colonialists occupied various parts of the Islamic State, by dividing it into nation states, patriotism (the temporary bond between people of a geographical location against an external threat) emerged among the Muslims as a reaction to the political and economic oppression by the Colonialists. By the time the Islamic State was abolished Muslims were no longer bound solely by the Islamic Aqeedah. Rather, there were additional ties of race, ethnicity, tribe and geographical location.

Tyrannical Rulers Welcome Nationalism

The current regimes emphasize and amplify nationalism and patriotism within their area of control. In order to keep Muslims bound by their race, ethnicity, tribe and geographical location these regimes use every tool available, including:

Independence Day – Every Muslim country spends great amount of effort, energy and enthusiasm in celebrating the day of its so-called freedom from colonial occupation when in fact the Kufr thoughts and laws still govern the Muslims.

Wars between Muslim countries – There have been many disputes and altercations in the recent past between Muslim countries including Iran and Iraq, Kurdish Muslims and Turkey, Afghanistan and Iran and between Turkey and Syria. These wars only stress the existence of the artificial borders created by the colonial powers, such as Britain and France.

Entertainment – Even in forms of entertainment such as soccer, the Muslim countries when playing each other incite nationalistic emotions resulting in vehement opposition of fans to the other teams and their fans – despite being brothers in Islam!

These tools culminate in stronger bonds between Muslims (and/or non-Muslims) of one specific geographical location compared to those between Muslims of different locations. As a result we see tensions between Sunni and Shia, between Muslims from India and Muslims from Pakistan, between the Muslims from Lebanon and the Muslims from Palestine or the Muslims who have darker skin versus the Muslims who have lighter skin.

Protect Yourself from the Disease of Nationalism

Irrespective of whether we were born in the West or we emigrated from the Muslim lands, we must be very careful of the attitude towards our brothers and sisters from different parts of the world. Being constantly bombarded with nationalistic and patriotic slogans, it is possible that many of our own decisions and emotions are influenced by these ideas. As a result, we should monitor our thoughts and emotions and if we recognize them to be nationalistic and/or patriotic, we should actively change our thoughts and our emotions so that they are governed solely by the Islamic Aqeedah.

May Allah (swt) cleanse our hearts and minds of nationalism and patriotism and may He allow us treat all Muslims as our own brothers and sisters.

“And indeed We have sent down for you Ayat that make things plain, and the example of those who passed away before you, and an admonition for those who are Al-Muttaqun” [TMQ 24:34]

Source: The Politically Aware Muslim

Middle East Crisis (Flash back)

Part 01;  Norman Finkelstein - Hezbollah, the Honour of Lebanon



Part 02; George Galloway Savages SKY NEWS!




The End/

Iraq: 7 Years on

The Iraqi Parliamentary election is being heralded as a successful conclusion to another American inspired project of regime change and nation building. The US has gone to some lengths to prove that Iraq is now ‘mission accomplished’ and with the upcoming parliamentary elections on March 7th the US is contemplating the withdrawal of its troops. The introduction of democracy has become axiomatic to the discussion of how the developing world, and especially the Islamic world, will provide stability and prosperity for its suffering millions. For America Iraq is another successful conclusion to America’s track record of successful nation building. For the US Iraq is its 21st century Japan and Germany. Both nations were defeated in World War 2, and systematically deconstructed, with the past ideologies replaced with democratic institutions.


How the US has reached the current situation where an election can take place is central to understanding the future in store for the Muslim of Iraq.

Invasion

The neoconservatives who built the case for war against Iraq expected a quick and decisive victory. The Iraqi army, armed mainly with Soviet-built equipment, was considered overall ill-equipped in the face of America’s superior fire power. For the Neocon’s this was their first project since the infamous Project for the New American Century (PNAC) was set up, that advocated the use of military force to spread democracy around the world.

Whilst March 2003 is considered the date when nearly 300 000 foreign troops began the invasion of Iraq, in 2002 the US had already made contact with commanders of several Iraqi military divisions through the US military's elite Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) and the CIA's Special Activities Division. These efforts consisted of persuading them to surrender rather than oppose the invasion, and to identify all of the key leadership targets. Their efforts also included the arming of 70 000 Kurdish militia, who would eventually defeat the Iraqi army in the north of Iraq. The Iraqi National Congress opposition group, led by Ahmed Chalabi was deployed to southern Iraq. When Turkey refused to house US troops for the invasion the US dropped several thousand paratroopers into northern Iraq.

In April 2003 Baghdad fell. US forces seized the deserted Ba’ath Party ministries and stage-managed the tearing down of the iron statue of Saddam Hussein, an event that became symbolic of the invasion. By May 2003 George W Bush had delivered his ‘mission accomplished speech on board the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln.

By June 2003 the US with the other nations that invaded Iraq created the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) as a transitional government of Iraq until the establishment of a democratic government. The CPA was originally headed by Jay Garner, a former US military officer, but his appointment lasted only until May 2003 when President Bush appointed Paul Bremer. Bremer served until the CPA’s dissolution in July 2004.

Another group created by the multinational force in post-invasion Iraq was the 1,400-member international Iraq Survey Group who conducted a fact-finding mission to find Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction. By 2004 the ISG's Duelfer Report stated that Iraq did not have a viable WMD program.

Whilst there was a huge build up of troops for the initial invasion, once Baghdad fell, many were withdrawn. The US and its colonialist partners defeated Iraq’s conventional forces and occupied Iraq after just 21 days, the irregular and unconventional forces however would prove to be America’s achilles heel.

Insurgency

Within a few months of the invasion, the US very quickly became marred in an insurgency that today has greatly affected US prowess around the world. Evan Kohlmann, a leading expert on the insurgency outlined its beginnings “When the US invasion began in 2003, it was mainly Baathists, ex-Iraqi military, and Saddam loyalists. They were Iraqi nationalists, opposed to foreign occupation, who saw Iraq as a competitor with Egypt for the control of the Arab world. It was an issue of national pride. Video recordings and communiqués were coming out from everybody who had an AK-47. But as the war dragged on, some of these groups started coalescing; others were destroyed. Only the strongest, the most hardcore, the best financed, the people with the most training, survived, despite air strikes and the arrest of their senior leaders by the U.S. military.”

The first time the term ‘insurgents’ was used, was to describe Iraqi civilian actions in Fallujah in April 2004 when a Blackwater USA convoy led by four US private military contractors was ambushed. Four armed contractors, were killed with grenades and small arms fire. Subsequently, their bodies were dragged from their vehicles by local people, beaten, set ablaze, and their burned corpses hung over a bridge crossing the Euphrates.

The Shi’ah Mahdi Army also began launching attacks on coalition targets in an attempt to seize control of territory. The Southern and Central portions of Iraq were beginning to erupt in urban guerrilla combat as multinational forces attempted to keep control and prepared for a counteroffensive. Many from Iraq joined Muqtada al-Sadr. The Mahdi Army area of operation stretched from Basra in the south to the Sadr City section of Baghdad in Central Iraq. Similarly from amongst the Sunni’s many took up arms leading to an insurgency against the occupation, which was headed on one front by former Ba'athists and on the other by tribal leaders who reportedly received support through money and arms form Muslims across the region.

Whilst the insurgency targeted the US and coalition troops the militias, which was largely Shi’ah driven, turned against many of the Sunni groups. The Sunnis boycotted the Americas election process in 2005, objecting to the occupation of Iraq, whilst the major Shi’ah parties decided to work with the US. By 2006 it became very obvious that the US was benefiting from the actions of the militia which was aimed at other Muslims, as the counteroffensive that had derailed US ambitions was beginning to turn on itself.

Iran

By 2005 the US was well and truly drowning in Iraq and comparisons were being made with Vietnam. It became clear to all that the US had massively underestimated the enemy and whilst it had rapidly removed Iraq’s conventional forces the unconventional elements in Iraq had brought the US army to a stalemate where the US was never going to win the war, but was not prepared to lose.

It was here the US began discussing selective engagement with Iran. Whilst the Baker-Hamilton report to congress in 2006 contained such a proposition, engagement with Iran had already begun, in order to contain the insurgency.

Iran initiated its proxy the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq (ISCI) a group created in Tehran with full backing in 1982. Abdel Aziz al-Hakim its supreme leader until his death in 2009, gathered the major Shi'ah factions to partake in Iraq’s government, this left the US with an insurgency around Baghdad to only contend with. Rapprochement between both Iran and the US was confirmed by Ahmadinejad, in his interview with the New York Times during his visit to the United Nations Summit in September 2008: "Iran has extended its hand of cooperation to the United States on the issue of Afghanistan...and our country has given assistance to the US in restoring peace and stability in Iraq." The US through promises of positions in government, bribes and rewards managed to co-opt many of the Shi’ah factions give up violence and take part in the American constructed political setup. The role of Iran was outlined by an Iraqi official at the time "There is no doubt the Iranians have recently applied influence and leverage over Jaish al-Mahdi to contain and limit its operations inside Iraq," Barham Salih said in an interview to IPS. "This is a welcome sign. But I'll be very frank with you: the very fact that Iran can turn on and off the activities of Jaish al-Mahdi is one of concern to me as an Iraqi official."

The US also enlisted the help of Sayyid Ali al-Husayni al-Sistani, the highest-ranking Shi'a Marja in Iraq. Sistani issued a fatwa calling on Shi’ah imams to get involved in politics, he also demanded a direct vote for the purpose of forming a transitional government. Leading up to the January 2005 elections for a transitional government, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani helped bring Sadr, SCIRI, Da’wa, and other Shi’ah parties together under the so-called United Iraqi Alliance. In this way the US managed to stem the insurgency in the South of Iraq, in the North the Kurdish factions welcomed US intervention in Iraq, this left the US to face an insurgency in central Iraq, led by the minority Sunni’s.

In this way the US managed to take the bite out of the insurgency, they brought it to a more manageable level, but the resultant landscape the US constructed has caused factionalisation in Iraq.

The US made various deals to establish its political solution in Iraq, but it has only remained intact due to over 100 000 US personnel being present in Iraq and with Iranian proxies partaking in Iraq’s central government.

Democracy

The democratic parliament and legislative assembly the US set up in Iraq is being trumpeted as ‘mission accomplished.’ Under the guise of democracy the US has constructed a tenuous agreement with some of the Shi’ah factions in Iraq, which will turn the nation into a factional state with a everlasting factional infighting becoming a permanent state of affairs.

Iraq’s first parliamentary elections in 2005 institutionalised sectarian and ethnic differences. In this way the US could always rely on support from different groups within Iraq who will remain divided and will always cut deals with the US in return for promises of power. Parliament was split between the United Iraqi Alliance (UIA) led by the SCIRI and the Democratic Patriotic Alliance of Kurdistan (DPAK). This precarious settlement between these two groups meant Sunni resistance was contained and the US argued the elections had credibility due to their participation.

Even before the 7th March 2010 elections, sectarian rivalry has raised its ugly head. The Shi’ah coalitions that fought the 2005 elections have now tuned onto each other in order to protect their own interests and ensure they play an important role in the post election set up. Muqtada as-Sadr formed the Iraqi National Alliance (INA) which includes influential Shi’ah parties such as the Supreme Iraqi Islamic Council (SIIC), the Badr Brigade, the Sadrists, ex-prime minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari and the Fadila Party. But more importantly leaves out the current Prime Minister Nouri al Malaki.

As a result Maliki constructed a 40-party coalition headed by him that includes almost all of his ministers, including the powerful Oil Minister Hussein al-Shahristani, in the State of Law Alliance (SoL). The State of Law coalition unseated top Shi’ah parties, including the Supreme Iraqi Islamic Council (ISCI), in many provinces during the local elections. The Shi’ah parties came together on a fragile US created coalition - the United Iraqi Alliance – but the parties in the coalition competed for power in the local elections.

Malaki has attempted to gain the votes of the Shi’ah through the barring of politicians that have apparent ties to the outlawed Ba’ath Party once run by Saddam Hussein. A US commission was established in 2003 to enforce a constitutional mandate that forbids Ba’athists from taking part in politics. Many of the politicians the commission has recommended to ban, however, belong to Sunni and secular parties that are challenging the ruling Shi'ah blocs for seats in parliament. However in true pragmatic style, Malaki has concluded his support amongst the Shi’ah has waned he has decided 20,000 Iraqi army officers who were dismissed from their posts after the 2003 invasion for serving under Saddam Hussein are to be reinstated. Conclusions

In reality the US has replaced a brutal system in Iraq, which was headed by a dictator that the US for long propped up, with a corrupt system that recognises the ethnic and sectarian breakdown of Iraq. This will keep Iraq divided forever and as the jockeying for the March 7th elections has shown democracy has created fertile ground for polarised politics instead of dictatorial politics.

Democracy rather than solve nationalism, tribalism or sectarianism, in reality recognises such corruption and incorporates it into a system of parliamentary politics allowing various factions to fight and jockey for their petty interests. This means in the long run violence will continue as a means to settle ethnic differences – which would suit the US as an acceptable level of chaos and violence justifies continued US interference.

Without Iranian support, Iraq would have become America’s new Vietnam. Whilst on the surface Iran-US relations appear to be strained as the US continues to ratchet up the nuclear enrichment issue whenever it suits them, both nations behind the scenes view each other through another lens. Both Iran and the US have the same interests in the region and have worked together in Afghanistan for some time. Iran could have brought the US to its knees, but its pragmatic rulers have turned out to be no different the other rulers in the Muslim world who have betrayed the Ummah time and time again.

After 7 years since the invasion began to topple Saddam Hussein, in reality all that has changed is a corrupt one man system the West nurtured has been replaced by a multi party system which has the same narrow view towards the nation and politics, looking after there own ethnic sectarian interests. For the US this is the liberation it has brought to Iraq.

Source: Global Issues