In 115-degree Heat, Iraq’s Shiites Take to Sreets in a Mass Pilgrimage

[Hissyspit]

Source: Boston Herald

In 115-degree heat, Iraq’s Shiites take to the streets in a mass pilgrimage
By Associated Press
Thursday, August 9, 2007 - Updated: 03:54 PM EST

BAGHDAD - A drum beat reverberated through northwest Baghdad. Behind it came millions of pilgrims’ footsteps, footsteps in a display of Shiite religious fervor and political strength. Hundreds of thousands of faithful descended upon the Shiite enclave of Kazimiyah on Thursday, flogging themselves and chanting Koranic verse to the beat of a lone drummer propelling them toward Baghdad’s holiest Shiite shrine.

In 115-degree heat, the pilgrims - Iraqi officials said there were 3 million of them - snaked toward the gold-domed Imam al-Kadhim shrine, built on the spot where an 8th-century Shiite saint is believed to be buried.

- snip -

The crowd was no match for Iraqi security forces, who erected additional checkpoints to frisk pedestrians. At least one checkpoint was completely overrun by pilgrims, the flimsy metal frame of a guard booth carried away by a sea of black abayas and green headbands.

- snip -

Kadhim Ali al-Kadhim, a 66-year-old Kazimiyah resident named after the shrine, shrugged his shoulders when asked about the inadequate security. "Ultimately, it’s up to God. But if I’m lucky I’ll get out of here alive," he said.

Read more: http://news.bostonherald.com/international/middleEast/view.bg?articleid=1016259

[az chela]

1. All these innocent people suffering like this and pissy pants

is out on the boat totally blind to anything but his fun

[CheshireCat]

2. But the US has everything under control!

[TheCowsCameHome]

3. Too hot for the Iraqi Parliament, though.

[aquart]

4. God help them all.

[annabanana]

5. "The crowd was no match for Iraqi security forces" ?

I believe they meant
"Iraqi security forces were no match for the crowd"....


on edit: You'd think that a gathering like this would warrant at least a passing mention from good old corporate media....