Difficult to date in Iraq

[realFedUp]

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,173-2153017,00.html

Young lovers court danger from puritan moral militia
From Daniel McGrory in Baghdad

DATING is a dangerous game in Baghdad. Ali Ilhiam knows that holding hands with his teenage girlfriend could cost him a beating — or worse — from militant extremists.
“Boys can’t be seen walking and laughing with their girlfriends any more in the new Baghdad,” the 21-year-old university student said, glancing over his shoulder to make sure that he was not being watched. Friends of his have been dragged from their cars, imprisoned and threatened with death by self-appointed moral guardians for daring to link arms with their girlfriends in public.

An artificial lake on the banks of the Tigris, built by Saddam Hussein to cool one of his palaces, is among the few sanctuaries where Mr Ilhiam can still meet Murwa Majid, 19. Both are studying at nearby Baghdad University and skip lectures to spend a few minutes together.

They, like many of their friends, dread the approach of the summer holidays, when they will be separated, so they are planning to fail their exams so they can spend two months at college studying for resits.

continued

[wtmusic]

1. Which "self-appointed moral guardians" is he referring to?

Brown- or white-skinned?

[msongs]

2. some iraqis are pale, some are darker, so what's your point here? nt

[wtmusic]

3. Some Americans are pale, some are darker

Most are lighter than Iraqis, and our self-appointed moral guardians are every bit as repugnant as theirs.

[realFedUp]

4. seem to be the religious kind....nt