In a Baghdad Slum, a Big ‘I Do’
Sons and daughters of those killed under Saddam Hussein’s regime gathered Saturday for a group wedding. It was organized by an Iraqi charity for the many young men and women who are finding it difficult to afford marriage because of high prices and unemployment.
About 100 couples sat on white plastic chairs at Mohsen Mosque in the Shiite Muslim enclave of Sadr City, a Baghdad slum. Government officials gave wedding speeches that criticized the former dictator. The event was organized by the Shiite Iraqi Martyr Organization for Humanitarian Services.
“This mass wedding is not to show off. This is a deep project to build the family that was shaken during the rule of the unjust regime,” said cleric Hussein Shami, who leads the group.
Outside, members of radical cleric Muqtada Sadr’s militia cordoned off streets. Everyone who entered was searched.
One groom, Alaa Khalaf, 27, said had it not been for the group wedding, he would not have been able to cover the costs of marriage.
After the speeches, each couple was called forward to collect gifts: $690 in cash, a copy of the Koran and books about families. Earlier, they had been given a mattress and bolts of cloth.
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