Sowing the Seeds of Displacement: Religion and Society in Ba’thist Iraq (1980–2003)

Abstract

It was the day of Eid al-Adha- the feast to celebrate the end of the Hajj-and I had been invited to have lunch at the Rābeta Falastīniyi al-’Iraq [the Palestinian Iraqi Community Association] in mukhayim al-Yarmouk. Around 40 men were seated cross-legged on the floor, with a substantial spread of rice and shanks of lamb laid out in the center of the room before them. I took my place next to Tariq, who would turn out to be a valued friend and contact at the Rābeta. Turning to me he asked “so what brings you here?” “Kull sana wenta tayyib” I replied. “It’s Eid al Adha, Hajj Eesa and Abu Hassan invited me,” “No, why are you here in al-Sham?” persisted Tariq. Almost, as soon as I had finished telling Tariq about my research project, I was prompted by Abu Hassan, the director of the Rābeta to address everyone gathered to do the same. Later that afternoon, members of the assembled group took turns to pull me to one side to catch a word with the new face in their midst. I found myself re-iterating how and why I had come to be spending the afternoon with them: what had brought me to Damascus.

Abdullah bin ‘Amr mentioned that Allah’s Apostle said: The best among you are those who have the best manners and character. (Sahih Bukhāri Vol.8, Book 073, Number 056)