On July 7, a truck exploded in the Iraqi town of Amerli.  Estimates of causalities vary; however the local police reported 140 people are dead, 20 are missing, and more than 270 were injured.  The truck carried over two tons of explosives and was set off during the busy hours of the local market.  The explosion left a twelve foot crater and destroyed more than 50 houses and 45 shops.  Many of the causalities resulted from inhabitants being crushed as the buildings collapsed.  Rescuers worked to remove victims from the rubble and to transport the injured to hospitals.

While no group has claimed responsibility for the bomb, government officials, both Iraqi and American, blame Sunni insurgents, like Al Qaeda in Mesopotamia. 

In addition to this attack, the past two days saw an increase in violence across all of Iraq.  On July 8, another car bomb exploded in the town of Haswa, located 30 miles west of Baghdad; killing 20 new army recruits and wounding 27 others.  Two more car bombs exploded in Baghdad on July 9, killing twelve and wounding 35.

In addition, 29 unidentified bodies have been found in Baghdad on July 8; among them were the bodies of twelve abducted factory workers.  Officials believe that the workers were on their way home when Shia militants stopped the vehicle and then separated the Sunni workers from their Shia colleagues.  Of the group that was abducted, nine are still missing.

The recent increase in violence caused some Iraqi lawmakers to call for civilians to be given weapons and training to protect themselves.  Prior to July 7, local officials and residents of Amerli asked for an increased police force to provide protection against such attacks.  Many citizens are frustrated with the lack of security against sectarian violence.  Abbas al-Bayati, a Shiite Turkoman lawmaker, stated that in the absence of effective policing, residents should be able to take up arms and provide their own protection.

These sentiments were echoed by Sunni Arab vice president, Tariq al-Hashemi.  He stated that when the police and army are unable to protect civilians, that they have the right to defend themselves.  This idea has had a mixed reception among Iraqis.  Some Iraqis are frustrated by the lack of protection and feel that they cannot count on Iraqi police to provide the necessary security.  Others fear that arming civilians would lead to more sectarian violence and thereby decrease overall security.

For more information please see:

BBC:  “Abducted Iraqi Sunnis found dead”  9 July 2007. 

CNN:  “12 killed in Baghdad area attacks”  9 July 2007. 

The Independent:  “Iraqi politicians call on civilians to arm themselves”  9 July 2007. 

Washington Post:  “In Iraqi hamlet, ‘a funeral service in every house’” 9 July 2007. 

BBC:  “Iraqi PM slams ‘heinous’ bombers”  8 July 2007. 

NY Times:  “Around 150, death toll in Iraq attack among the war’s worst”  8 July 2007. 

Reuters:  “Iraq truck bomb death toll may be 150”  8 July 2007. 

Al Jazeera:  “‘More than 150’ dead in Iraq blast”  7 July 2007. 

CNN:  “At least 117 killing in Iraqi village market blast”  7 July 2007.

In June, an Islamic leader issued a fatwa against liberal Muslims.  Sheik Saleh al-Fozan said, “Calling oneself a liberal Muslim is a contradiction in terms … one should repent before God for such ideas in order to be a real Muslim.”  (Reuters)  The edict has caused liberal Muslims to fear attacks from Islamic militants. 

A fatwa is a religious edict issued by an Islamic cleric.  Typically, a fatwa is used to express disapproval against someone whose actions contradict the issuing cleric’s interpretation of Sharia law.  Sometimes violence follows the issuing of a fatwa.  This happens when militant followers enforce the fatwa by killing the target of the edict.  For example, in 1989 a fatwa was issued against Salman Rushdie. Although, he has survived the fatwa by going underground for many years, some of his book Satanic Verses translators were killed, as well as his Norwegian publisher. Also, 37 people died while his Turkish translator was targeted.

For this reason the Liberal Muslims are fearful that violence will ensue from this fatwa. “Even if his (Fozan) intention is not calling for violence, the implication is violence,” replied Turki al-Hamad.  (Reuters)  Hamad is a novelist targeted by Saudi Islamists because of his desire to expand the freedom of the individual. 

Saudi conservative Muslims are conflicting with liberal Muslims on whether the influence of the clerics should be limited.  The liberals also desire to limit the Saudi royal family’s power through implementing parliamentary elections.  The discord between the factions of Islam could cause violence amongst the factions.  If this happens it is likely that the Saudi government would have to intercede and the Royal Family would seize the opportunity to cement its power.  If the discord does not lead to open violence, it could create the necessary tension to limit the influence of radical militant clerics. 

Reuters. Saudi fatwa against liberals raise fears of violence. 8 July 2007.
Fars News Agency. Enemies seek to Sow Religious Discord among Muslims. 7 July 2007.
CNN. Iran dissacociates itself from Rushdie death sentence. 24 September 1998.