Iraq violence feeds funeral businesses

[Barrett808]

Iraq violence feeds funeral businesses
By SINAN SALAHEDDIN, Associated Press Writer
Thu Aug 17, 5:31 AM ET

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Back in 1982, Radhwan Mizaal Ali opened a tiny shop offering funeral supplies. Now he runs six shops, and business is booming.

"Whenever they beat war drums, our business flourishes more," Ali said as he puffed on a hookah waterpipe in one of his shops.

From coffin makers to professional mourners who weep and wail at ceremonies, a wave of killings in Baghdad is fueling a boom in the funeral industry.

Ali offers everything a grieving family needs for a proper burial: chairs for the mourners, tape recorders and speakers to transmit Quranic verses, plates for traditional foods and a generator — all rented out for about $100 a day.

...

"During the Saddam era, we used to do one or two coffins a day and the price ranged between $5 to $10," Mohammed said. Now he produces an average of 10 to 15 coffins a day and charges about $50 for each of them.

(more)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060817/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_funeral_boom

[saigon68]

1. Ali said as he puffed on a hookah waterpipe

"FIRE UP" the water pipe