Shiite pilgrims undeterred by violence

BAGHDAD – Explosions targeting a Shiite religious festival have claimed dozens of lives this week. But pilgrims streaming to a Baghdad shrine Thursday made clear that, no matter their feelings of frustration over a bleak political horizon and ongoing bloodshed, they valued the opportunity to express their faith.

Five bombs killed 13 people Thursday as pilgrims continued to visit the shrine of Imam Musa Kadhim, a Shiite saint believed to have been poisoned in prison in 799.

The bombs targeted pilgrims in Shiite areas of eastern Baghdad, according to police.

Five people were killed and 32 wounded in New Baghdad; four were slain and 41 injured in Bab Muadhim; two died and 13 were wounded in Zafaraniya; and two more pilgrims were killed in the afternoon on Palestine Street as they returned home from the shrine.

Since 2003, Shiite religious festivals have been marred by bombing attacks. This week’s ceremonies were no different.

Despite a deployment of 200,000 Iraqi police and security forces to prevent violence, at least 68 pilgrims died and 449 were wounded in more than a dozen militant attacks over three days.

Explosives found their way among the columns of devotees, often carried by women, whom pilgrims said received only cursory searches, if any at all.

On Thusday, the faithful descended on the gold-domed Imam Kadhim shrine knowing that a suicide bomber had claimed the lives of 33 worshippers marching through the Sunni neighborhood of Adhamiya the previous night.

Qema Hesnawiya, 60, had walked to the shrine from Salman Pak, south of Baghdad. She was undeterred by the carnage.

“I heard about the Adhamiya explosion yesterday. I am not afraid to be a victim of these attacks,” Hesnawiya said, sititing on the ground, covered in a black gown and head scarf.

“These people who commit such crimes have no fear of God, and have no sense and mercy. But despite all these attacks and explosions, today is better than Saddam Hussein’s time.”