Iraqis burn books in culture protest

[sabra]

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20329101-1702,00.html

Iraqis burn books in culture protest

SEVERAL of Iraq's leading booksellers and writers burned a pyre of books today to denounce a curfew which they said has turned the centre of Baghdad's intellectual life into "a street of ghosts".

In a demonstration dubbed the “Fires of Al-Mutanabi”, authors and publishers denounced a weekly four-hour travel ban during Friday prayers in the war-torn Iraqi capital, which they said was stifling an important cultural centre.

Iraqi police enforce the ban to protect Sunni and Shiite worshippers from sectarian attacks, but the restrictions have had a knock-on effect on many of the other things Baghdadis once did on their weekly day of rest.

“Al-Mutanabi Street is the bread and butter of every cultured man. The curfew on Friday stops many Iraqis flocking to this place,” Naim al-Shatri, the owner of the oldest bookshop in the street, said.

“It has become a street of ghosts.”

[tanyev]

1. Not sure I follow that line of thinking.

[rodeodance]

2. To the owners, the books are useless (people not able to travel to this

center)---so, might as well burn them.


That is what I think they are 'saying"/thinking/actually doing.

[rodeodance]

3. "Friday was now “sorrowful for readers”.

......n the past 15 years – despite war, economic sanctions and political repression – the street became a gathering place for artists and writers, according to cinema critic and screenwriter Kadhim Rashhed Salum.

“We hope the policy makers lift the curfew which has killed our weekly rituals in this street and stopped students hunting for books,” he said, lamenting the demise of a weekly auction of rare and valuable works.

Iraqi writer Sadun Hlayil said Friday was now “sorrowful for readers”.

[tanyev]

4. I hope they were careful to burn books that were already headed for

the remainder bin. :cry:

[Wise Doubter]

5. Well, they surely can`t read them now...

why not burn the building also ?

Although I do commend their action statement I really don`t think it is the best place to do it. Kinda hard to re-stock wouldn`t you think ?


oh yeah, bring some weenies !

[sofa king]

8. Don't you see? The authors are creating demand.

Feed an author--burn a book.

[Barrett808]

6. Iraqis burn books to protest 'culture-killing' curfew

Iraqis burn books to protest 'culture-killing' curfew
by Khalil Jalil

BGAHDAD (AFP) - Several of Iraq's leading booksellers and writers have burnt a pyre of books to denounce a curfew which they said has turned the centre of Baghdad's intellectual life into "a street of ghosts".

In a demonstration dubbed the "Fires of Al-Mutanabi", authors and publishers denounced a weekly four-hour travel ban during Friday prayers in the war-torn Iraqi capital, which they said was stifling an important cultural centre.

Iraqi police enforce the ban to protect Sunni and Shiite worshippers from sectarian attacks, but the restrictions have had a knock-on effect on many of the other things Baghdadis once did on their weekly day of rest.

"Al-Mutanabi Street is the bread and butter of every cultured man. The curfew on Friday stops many Iraqis flocking to this place," Naim al-Shatri, the owner of the oldest bookshop in the street, told AFP on Friday.

"It has become a street of ghosts," he added.

(more)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060901/wl_mideast_afp/iraqliteraturecultureunrest

[ulysses]

7. I can understand their point, but how are you going to burn books

in order to protest the killing of culture?

[INDIA]

9. Let's just agree that a lot of people in that country aren't thinking...

or acting rationally right now.

[InkAddict]

10. IMO, this seems to be yet another irrational

counterproductive method to make a point that isolation kills culture and, at first glance, would lead one directly into remaining isolated within the home to communicate only with Allah, which is of course exactly the intent of the curfew. :shrug: