Iraq: Fatwa on Fishing in Blood-Stained Water (Dead Bodies Contaminate Tigris)

[Hissyspit]

Source: Times of London

Iraq: Fatwa on fishing in blood-stained water
Baghdad-For centuries Iraqi fishermen have plied the waters of the Tigris, netting giant freshwater fish and preparing them for the traditional masgouf dinner, served on Baghdad’s palm-fringed river banks.

But in a gruesome twist to the war, the country’s national dish is under threat because even the most devoted fish- lovers are concerned about what else lurks beneath the green waters of the ancient river.
Abu Ayyad, 55, comes from a family of Tigris fishermen. His father fished the waters in Baghdad, as did his grandfather and, he believes, generations before that. Now, though, he is reduced to preparing and serving farmed carp because the public refuses to eat fish taken from the river. “Personally, I still think the river fish is the best, but because of the situation few of my customers will touch it,” said the masgouf seller, who runs a grotty roadside stall in Baghdad’s Jadriyeh neighborhood.

By the “situation” he means that so many bodies have been dumped in the river during the sectarian blood-letting that has divided the capital that residents do not go near the water. They would certainly not consume what comes out of it, particularly the large fish that feed off the Tigris riverbed.

Some Islamic religious leaders have even issued fatwas, declaring that fish caught in the river are unclean and unfit for human consumption.

“I still like to eat fish once a week, but it is not quite the same as before,” said Ali, a regular customer, who stopped by Abu Ayyad’s stall on Tuesday to select a fish for cooking and then returned later to pick it up for his family’s lunch. “We have only been eating farmed fish for the past year.” Richard Beeston © The Times



Read more: http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/detaylar.do?load=detay&link=115101

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Juan Cole: Iraqis used to love fried river fish, but are afraid to eat anything caught in the Tigris nowadays, since there are so many dead bodies floating in the river.

Think Progress: Dead bodies and blood contaminate Tigris River. “Iraqis used to love fried river fish, but are afraid to eat anything caught in the Tigris nowadays, since there are so many dead bodies floating in the river.” They were dumped there “during the sectarian blood-letting that has divided the capital.”

[bunkerbuster1]

1. Another "Count to ten, control your anger" item

For some reason, I've become almost immune to feeling anger about the news of violence in Iraq, and I have for far too long a time.

For some reason, it's the stories about how the ordinary lives are affected--whether it's these people who can't even eat fish any more with a clear conscience (and ask yourself, religious fatwa or no--would you want to contemplate eating fish that'd been feeding on dead people?), or families of service members, here in the US who've had their lives turned upside down because of Chimpy McFuckstain's evil vanity war.

These stories make me furious.

Goddamn these war pigs. Goddamn them to hell.

[Barrett808]

3. On the bright side, the drop in demand may reduce unsustainable practices...

...like dynamite fishing, which have expanded during the Bush catastrophe.

[asjr]

2. I feel as if there has been blood in

the water since this administration took over our lives. The drain needs unclogging but I don't know who will be the plumber.

[Ian_rd]

4. Uh oh - bloody water - more joy for End Timers

Dead waters are one of the signs of the apocalypse as foretold in the acid-induced revelations of the Bible. I wonder how long it will take before this article is linked in End Timer forums as more proof that this is yet another sign of the coming return of Christ as the Lord works through his cherished vessel, G.W. Bush.