Crackdown on alcohol seen as part of conservative moment in Iraq

[onehandle]

Source: Washington Post

In recent months, the pendulum has veered toward conservative mores. Government officials, including many competing in the upcoming parliamentary election, have sought to impose stricter limits on alcohol consumption and coeducational schools.

In some ways, whether the Iraq that emerges from the U.S. occupation becomes more conservative or more permissive than its neighbors will depend greatly on which politicians are chosen in that election, scheduled to take place March 7. But it is far from clear whether the upcoming contest will affirm or buck the current trend.

"Unfortunately, the democratic system in Iraq has led to the rise of undemocratic parties and movements that don't believe in the concept of human rights or personal freedoms," said Mithal Alousi, a secular Sunni lawmaker. "These parties are trying to leave an impression among the uneducated and the simple-minded people that they are the guardians of religion and proper behavior, and conversely, that secular parties are the ones promoting alcohol consumption and the opening of nightclubs, and thus are un-Islamic."

Alcohol is relatively hard to come by in Iraq's southern provinces, which are predominantly Shiite and tend to be more conservative than the rest of the country. Baghdad has several liquor stores, most owned and operated by Christians. Owners say they are afraid the government will drive their business underground by refusing to renew licenses.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/03/AR2010010302228.html

---

America. Building countries to bomb in the future isn't just for breakfast anymore.

[optimator]

1. yep the biggest flaw in democracy

is the people always end up electing authoritarian/corrupt parties just like our country.

[Odin2005]

2. "The people will vote away their rights" -Ben Franklin

[shadowknows69]

4. People always pose the question, if you could go back in time and meet someone....

I think Mr. Franklin would be pretty high on my list.

[shadowknows69]

3. I wish the conservatives would stop drinking it here.

If everyone was just smokin' Mudda Nature's sacred herb we'd 'ave no time fer war mon.

[MindPilot]

5. "limits on alcohol consumption and coeducational schools'

Curious that those two things are mentioned in the same sentence. Do Muslims consider them to have equally corruptive influences?

[JackInGreen]

6. I think

it's more a statement that both consumption of alcohol and co-education are proposed and grouped as two common unislamic activities. The corruptive influences would be on par with each other.
Welcome to the new Iraq, the Old Saudi Arabia.

[marshall]

7. I can't even imagine what a conservative movement in Iraq would be like

Their most progressive liberals probably would compare with our right wing fundamentalists.

It's a whole different world out there!

[JackInGreen]

8. Funny that

I've heard from several of my European friends that US Liberals = European Conservatives....in this situation, we have US Conservatives = Middle Eastern Liberals.
Amirite?

[Name removed]

9. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.