Baghdadis merry with Eid amidst security measures

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Markets, parks and most of the amusement places in Baghdad are crowded with people celebrating Eidul-Adha (a four-day Muslim holiday) in a new phenomenon when compared with previous years, while security forces were deployed in the city under a tight security plan. Tahseen al-Safee, a 37 years old civil servant, told IraqiNews.com “security forces are heavily deployed in Palestine Street where I live.” “Many families come to this street for shopping under the security measures,” he said. Ahmed Majeed, who is 42 years old and sells fish in Sadr City, said “there is an increase in people’s desire to buy fish during Eid.” “Transport motion seems to be normal,” he noted. Riyadh Sabeeh, 48 years old, told IraqiNews.com “it was supposed to be very difficult for me and my family to reach the park in Rusaffa (eastern side of Baghdad) without the presence of security forces to arrange the traffic.” He pointed out that police forces are present around the park and at its gate. Others were upset because some roads leading to central Baghdad have been closed. “I could not reach al-Zawraa park (Karkh – western side of Baghdad) due to traffic jams, and because of some roads having been blocked,” Abu Saif (40 years old) told IraqiNews.com. For his part, the spokesperson of Baghdad Operation Command (BOC) said on Wednesday that No security incidents have been reported in the Iraqi capital during the Eidul-Adha. “The BOC is currently conducting security and services plans,” Maj. Gen. Qassem Ata told IraqiNews.com. The official praised citizens’ cooperation with the security apparatus. Eidul-Adha or the Festival of Sacrifice is a religious festival celebrated by Muslims and Druze worldwide in commemoration of the willingness of Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God. MH (S)/SR 1