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CNN Sunday Morning

Will Iraq Become a Theocracy?

Aired April 27, 2003 - 08:30   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


KELLI ARENA, CNN ANCHOR: With each passing day, there seems to be more organization in Baghdad. Religious clerics are helping in some ways, but does that mean Iraq will turn into an Islamic state?
Well, CNN's Rula Amin headed into the streets of Baghdad to ask residents.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(CHANTING)

(CHEERING)

RULA AMIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): It became a display of shared power, the pilgrimage to Karbala that attracted hundreds of thousands. Iraqis seemed understanding about the outpouring of religious devotion.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): It's like a man who has fasted and is then presented with food all of a sudden. After they start eating they'll get too full but they will calm down.

AMIN: If Womiq Mosmi (ph) is devout, it is to the secular scholarship. He says there is also nervousness about the growing strength of the Shia.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There is some consideration among non-Shiites where there were Sunni Arabs or Kurds or people with secular beliefs. It's being slightly antagonized at the force popularity and extreme good organizational capabilities of those people.

AMIN: Here is an example of the organizational capabilities. This mosque has just opened a medical clinic. Organizers say it's already serving about a hundred patients a day. Mosmi (ph) says he himself used his local mosque to organize a watch committee to defend the neighborhood against looters.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It became apparent for even the most stupider minded person that mosques, whether Shiites or Sunnis became the center for this sort of protection. They used to call against robbery and the looting as it is against Islam. We have to gather to unite in the mosques so to protect ourselves. And I think this gives a great prestige to the religious foundation whether Sunni or Shia and even to the churches.

AMIN: Capitalizing on that prestige, some Shiite clerics are already calling for the establishment of an Islamic state.

This Shia telephone engineer loves the idea. But he doesn't think it's likely.

A Sunni colleague says she doesn't mind the idea. Why not? She says if all of the women cover their hair, I would as well.

These are former employees at a telephone exchange. Their building was bombed, but they showed up for work anyway. There's nothing to do but talk. Some made clear they do not want an Islamic state. This woman is a Shiite.

I believe people should be free to choose whatever way of life they like, she says.

Then I was scolded for focusing my questions on religious divisions.

What I'm concerned with says this mother, is security. That is my concern. Women can hardly leave their houses anymore because the streets have become so dangerous.

I'm just telling you, another woman says this, is not liberation. This is occupation.

Womiq Mosmi (ph) says that is one more reason the religious establishment is gaining power.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Now, the only group who stand up to protect the dignity of the country, its independence, are the religious people. And especially the Shia who are the more organized.

AMIN: And good organization seems to appeal to Iraqis at the time of great chaos.

Rula Amin, CNN, Baghdad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com






Aired April 27, 2003 - 08:30   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KELLI ARENA, CNN ANCHOR: With each passing day, there seems to be more organization in Baghdad. Religious clerics are helping in some ways, but does that mean Iraq will turn into an Islamic state?
Well, CNN's Rula Amin headed into the streets of Baghdad to ask residents.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(CHANTING)

(CHEERING)

RULA AMIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): It became a display of shared power, the pilgrimage to Karbala that attracted hundreds of thousands. Iraqis seemed understanding about the outpouring of religious devotion.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): It's like a man who has fasted and is then presented with food all of a sudden. After they start eating they'll get too full but they will calm down.

AMIN: If Womiq Mosmi (ph) is devout, it is to the secular scholarship. He says there is also nervousness about the growing strength of the Shia.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There is some consideration among non-Shiites where there were Sunni Arabs or Kurds or people with secular beliefs. It's being slightly antagonized at the force popularity and extreme good organizational capabilities of those people.

AMIN: Here is an example of the organizational capabilities. This mosque has just opened a medical clinic. Organizers say it's already serving about a hundred patients a day. Mosmi (ph) says he himself used his local mosque to organize a watch committee to defend the neighborhood against looters.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It became apparent for even the most stupider minded person that mosques, whether Shiites or Sunnis became the center for this sort of protection. They used to call against robbery and the looting as it is against Islam. We have to gather to unite in the mosques so to protect ourselves. And I think this gives a great prestige to the religious foundation whether Sunni or Shia and even to the churches.

AMIN: Capitalizing on that prestige, some Shiite clerics are already calling for the establishment of an Islamic state.

This Shia telephone engineer loves the idea. But he doesn't think it's likely.

A Sunni colleague says she doesn't mind the idea. Why not? She says if all of the women cover their hair, I would as well.

These are former employees at a telephone exchange. Their building was bombed, but they showed up for work anyway. There's nothing to do but talk. Some made clear they do not want an Islamic state. This woman is a Shiite.

I believe people should be free to choose whatever way of life they like, she says.

Then I was scolded for focusing my questions on religious divisions.

What I'm concerned with says this mother, is security. That is my concern. Women can hardly leave their houses anymore because the streets have become so dangerous.

I'm just telling you, another woman says this, is not liberation. This is occupation.

Womiq Mosmi (ph) says that is one more reason the religious establishment is gaining power.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Now, the only group who stand up to protect the dignity of the country, its independence, are the religious people. And especially the Shia who are the more organized.

AMIN: And good organization seems to appeal to Iraqis at the time of great chaos.

Rula Amin, CNN, Baghdad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com