Shia peacemakers help in Fallujah

Yestarday something wonderful happened. At a time when Iraqis are being increasingly polarised along religious and ethnic lines, a courageous group of people stood against this. In its first public action the recently formed Muslim Peacemaker Team (MPT) arranged for a group of 15 Shia from Najaf, Kerbala and Baghdad - including 3 women - to visit Fallujah and show solidarity with its vilified Sunni inhabitants. Only two members of the team had visited Fallujah before (I was with them on this exploratory trip in March, another trip 10 days ago including accompanying in medicial aid from the Jarrar family). The flyer which MPT distruibuted explained: "We are among our brothers and sisters in the city of Fallujah to demonstrate our solidarity with you. Our action today is symbolic but... God willing, this project will be . . . the beginning of many projects that will show the world that we are truly one people."

MPT donned orange jump suits and yellow helmets (provided by the city's department of public works) and worked alongside Fallujans to clear streets of rubble and rubbish left over from the US assualt last November. Many passersby and children were excited by the activity and joined in enthusiastically.

Later the MPT members joined in Friday prayers at the Furqan mosque. Earlier they had discussed among themselves whether they should pray in the Sunni or Shia style (which involves a slightly different positioning of the arms and the use of a clay cylinder to rest one's forehead on during prostration). Their conclusion was to use their traditional style because, they said, we are not pretending to be Sunnis, rather we are Shia Iraqis praying alongside our Sunni Iraqi brothers and sisters. Sheikh Abdul Hameed Al-Jumaily presented everyone with inscribed Qu'rans and the Fallujans treated MPT to a generous lunch and they shared an afternoon of fellowship together.

More photos from the trip should be posted here shortly. I am overjoyed that the project went so well and I wish I could have been there myself. I should explain that the project was envisage, organised and paid for by Muslim Peacemaker Team. We merely helped make the connection between Kerbala and Fallujah and went along for the ride.

Media may contact MPT for more information: Sami Rasouli (Najaf) +964-7801-003326, rasouli264@gmail.com and Hussain al-Ibrahemy (Kerbala) +964 7801-076862