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Disaffected Iraqis Spurn Dominant Shiite Clerics
Pilgrims pray at night in front of the Imam Ali shrine in Najaf, one of Shiite Islam's holiest sites. Nearby there is an open sewer. "The marjaiya sold us the promise that Iraq is going to be a prosperous country," one man said, referring to top Shiite clerics. "But that has not happened."
(By Sudarsan Raghavan -- The Washington Post)
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"The marjaiya does not have an army, does not have enormous amounts of money," he said. "Its capital is measured in respect." The clerics, he added, "have risked this respect by backing up this government."
The marjaiya are trying to reverse this impression. In a recent sermon, Safi, the Sistani spokesman, criticized the government for failing to provide services.
"We cannot blame the marjaiya," said Najafi, the top cleric's son. "The government did not keep its commitments."
But people such as Najaf merchant Abu Mustafa are disillusioned. On a recent night near the Imam Ali shrine, as dozens of soldiers lined Prophet Street frisking the faithful and the curious, he was looking to the future.
"If I am not happy, will I believe in you?" asked Abu Mustafa, who gave only his nickname. "If you split politics from religion, it will succeed," he added.
"We need to push Iraq toward this," agreed his friend Muhammad Munim al-Saar.
"Next time, I will not participate in the elections," Abu Mustafa said. "My belief has been reduced. Why would I go? If I do vote, it will be for the secular parties."
