Discussion on Sectarian Expressions in Iraq

The term "Sharaqwa"

We used to hear it since Saddam's days,

from the Ba'athists.

In the College of Law, we used to hear it from some Ba'athists

who were students there.

In the College of Law, they were Ba'athists and in the security services.

Let's leave aside the term "Sharaqwa".

I mean, we don't know what the audio leak did,

this expression, Abd.

The expression now, regardless of the recordings,

which are left to the judiciary,

but I am telling you about the expression itself.

If it involves an insult and degradation to a component of the Iraqi people,

it is considered a crime punishable by law.

Like the N-word in the United States when said to a Black person,

for example.

But where is the problem?

Where is the problem if I said Mr. Hassan Shammar is a Shrouqi,

or if you said Yasser Amer is a Shrouqi?

No, because this expression is not meant to refer to a geographical area.

I can say "Shrouqi" or "Gharoubi" for the people of the western region,

or "Shamali"... what do they call it?

This concept...

This concept...

Khamis al-Khanjar used it

in the context of his speech criticizing the status quo,

and this expression was used to demean a component of the Iraqi people.

It means contempt for the component,

Yes, belittling the component,

belittling the Shuruqi component.

Yes.

This is the concept of Shuruqi.

I told you, I lived through the days of the former regime,

Yes,

and I used to hear from the Ba'athists in the Law College,

from the students and some professors,

and from the officers in the army

during the days of Saddam's regime.

I also entered the military during that period,

and how they used to treat us.

They have a look of contempt and disdain,

which they were raised on since the days of the former regime,

the Ba'ath Party.

And unfortunately, these remnants are showing on the tongue of Khamis and others.