Iraq: Young lovers court danger from puritan moral militia

[rainbow4321]

Guess we won't be seeing any photo ops of Rice and Rummy w/ young, in love Iraqi couples.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,173-2153017,00.html

DATING is a dangerous game in Baghdad. Ali Ilhiam knows that holding hands with his teenage girlfriend could cost him a beating — or worse — from militant extremists.

“Boys can’t be seen walking and laughing with their girlfriends any more in the new Baghdad,” the 21-year-old university student said, glancing over his shoulder to make sure that he was not being watched. Friends of his have been dragged from their cars, imprisoned and threatened with death by self-appointed moral guardians for daring to link arms with their girlfriends in public.

Most cinemas and discos have closed, and the few restaurants popular with the younger crowd close at 8pm. Gunmen hang around former favourite haunts and check identity cards to make sure that couples are married.
<snip>

“This country has expired,” Murwa Majid said, nervously twisting a gold necklace that spelt out her name. “No matter what our new Prime Minister says, my generation is pessimistic. Life will not improve any time soon. This is not living.”

[Botany]

1. freedom is on the march

[valerief]

2. Well, they've got to learn to get into S & M. Why do they hate

freedom?

I'm sure there's a self-flagellating freeper stating those sentiments. However, Majid's comment "this country has expired" is more on the money.

It's a tragedy.

[TimeChaser]

3. Being around the same age as some of the kids in that story,

this just really depresses me.

K&R

[rainbow4321]

4. And we wonder why the young Iraqis are attacking our troops..

They have seen their future taken away from them..no jobs, no ability to have a real guy/girl relationship in public, their older male relatives killed/taken away by the occupying forces. The list goes on and on...