BAGHDAD, 12 January 2006 — Thousands of children ventured out onto the bomb-scarred streets of Baghdad and into a zoo yesterday amid a lull in violence as Iraqis observed a major Muslim holiday. Across the country, people were enjoying the four-day Eid Al-Adha (feast of the sacrifice) holiday, but celebrations were largely subdued after almost three years of violence.
In a rare public show of festivity, families poured into Baghdad’s main Azzawra zoo to check out the animals — including a tired-looking bear and lion — even though at least half of the cages were empty. They also crammed onto amusement rides and paddled about on boats in a small lake inside the zoo area. Other revelers stretched out on a grassy field or ate at a number of restaurants.
Adding to the party atmosphere, music blasted from stereos carried by young men as boys and girls danced around their parents. “We are fed up with staying indoors so we decided to come out for a change,” said Amal Mohammad, 35, whose two young daughters were prancing to the beat of the music.
“I am not going to think about the security situation for once,” she told AFP as a group of break-dancers broke into an energetic routine of head-spins and hand-stands to the delight of the crowd. Suhair Jabbar, a 40-year-old housewife, was watching her two children ride a small yellow, red and green Ferris wheel. “The security situation is not really a problem for us because we have grown used to it,” she said.
Whoops and cries erupted from a cup and saucer ride nearby, which span people around to the sound of fairground music. Many of the children at the zoo were dressed in new clothes and shoes, or proudly clutching new hand bags, given by their parents to mark the Eid holiday - one of the most important in the Muslim calendar.
A heavy security presence at the entrance to the zoo slightly dampened the good mood, with guards checking all cars to prevent would-be suicide bombers from wreaking havoc. A policeman inside said the day had been trouble-free so far, but noted that the park now closed at 6.30 p.m. (1530 GMT) because of security concerns whereas before it would have stayed open all night.
The insurgency has had another impact on children’s lives, inspiring them to play “terrorist and policeman” rather than “cops and robbers”. “I shot the terrorist, I shot the terrorist,” shouted Omar, eight, as he played with his brother and two friends at the zoo. Asked why they were playing such a game, he said: “There are a lot of terrorists so we have to fight.”
At the entrance to the zoo, a toy vendor said he had swapped plastic cars and dolls for plastic Kalashnikovs, other rifles and even plastic mortars. “These toys are all the rage now. It is what children want,” said Maan Mohammed, 22, noting that business was booming.
Even though people were making the most of the holiday, the celebrations were much more low-key than before the US-led invasion in March 2003. In the past, Baghdad teemed with life during the Eid holiday. Families cluttered the streets or relaxed in the many parks with large picnics. Many hired boats on the Tigris River, stopping off at smoked fish restaurants along the way.
In the evening, young people set off firecrackers and celebrated in roadside cafes, often until dawn.
