Baghdad - After five years of violence marked by killings
and suicide bombings, Iraqis are now - amid a marked improvement in
the security situation - cautiously starting to venture out to relax
in their parks and public places again.
Something they hadn't done for years - chilling out with family
and friends in public - is something people in Baghdad are starting
to learn how to do again.
The new relative feeling of safety comes amid Pentagon data
showing that in June, violence had dropped by 40 to 80 per cent, the
result of the increased presence of US troops and better coordination
with the Iraqi military.
Now, Iraqis are starting to hang out again in marketplaces, parks,
and other spots which had long been deserted.
'The good weather and the drop in violence made me get out of the
house to enjoy this beautiful garden,' said Aziz Hady, 43, who cameo
to a safe park in Baghdad's central Harithyah district with his wife
and four children.
'And with the electricity always being cut off at home, we decided
to come here and enjoy a nice picnic under the shade of the trees,'
Hady added.
The park, located on the banks of the Tigris River, contains a zoo
and a fun fair as well, and remains a bustling place until the late
in the evening.
Hundreds of Iraqis meanwhile visit the park's market, searching
for a variety of goods, from house birds to clothing to antiques.
Helping to boost the security of such public places, the
government has built large cement walls to surround the market
squares and posted police and army troops to provide protection.
Such local markets feature exotic animals - monkeys, wolves,
trained dogs, snakes, and strange fish species.
Such markets seem to have something for everyone. Book lovers, for
example, can now go in search of books by Arab and international
writers.
And, amid the new atmosphere, people are once again enjoying a
simple pleasure - just hanging out in one of Baghad's old cafes,
chatting, drinking tea and playing or watching a game of dominos.
At sunset, shoppers say farewell to the market, heading home laden
with bags heavy from their day of shopping.
And Muslims who have longed for the blessings of a Friday are now
visiting mosques and holy places once again as well.
Unfortunately, while markets and parks are starting to resume
their pre-war activities again, the city's theatres and cinemas still
present a picture of desolation - they remain closed down and have
become littered with accumulated trash and filth.
After the US-led invasion in the spring of 2003, prominent singers
and actors fled the country. Now, now only a limited number of plays
are performed at the national theatre. The audience is usually
comprised of Iraqi intellectuals.
USA
Your Talkback on this Story