Arabic → English transcript

The descendants of discord and al- Saqifa,

from the lowest soldier to the caliph, insulted the Companions,

thus igniting a discord that will not be easily extinguished.

Between freedom of expression and hate speech, a“ rāddūd” poem is stirring

controversy in Iraq. The story begins here,

from a clip that spread of the Iraqi rāddūd Khidr Abbas.

And the rāddūd— for those who do not know— is a religious chanter who performs

in Husayni gatherings,

and relies on the art of call- and- response to deliver poems and verse,

or what is known among the Shia community as latmiyyat.

Abbas, who was previously known for works calling for unity, appeared “ It began,

it began, it began, our ranks began to unite, Shia and Sunnis together,

our ranks began to unite.” Today he faces fierce accusations of presenting content

classified as hate speech, after his latest latmiyya included phrases

described as having crossed red lines, and even social taboos, by attacking

religious figures who are widely respected and esteemed by the Sunni community.

The latmiyya sparked a wave of anger

Sweeping across Iraq and even beyond. Khudor Abbas,

who was singing the song“ Qareeb” that got billions of views,

the one that goes“ bada bada bada,” and“ bada Shia with Sunni, bada our reunion,”

which of course is all taqiyya. Do you know what taqiyya means?

It means that the content, or what he says,

is different from what he hides in his heart of hatred, hostility,

and enmity. But why?

And why has the issue become so trivial?

And why does the government not hold them accountable?

Why does no one come out to denounce it?

Why does no one come out to silence these voices? We find that Article

372 of the Iraqi Penal Code is clear, as it stipulates a penalty of

imprisonment or a fine for anyone who publicly insults a sacred religious symbol

of any sect. Sectarianism, transgression, insults, and attacks on beliefs,

and on the Companions, peace be upon them. Why?

Is it not enough incitement of strife?

Do you know why every day we see these types of people coming out and

speaking this way? Because there is no deterrent,

we do not have a law that deters these types.

But the texts alone are not enough. For when the punishment is not enforced,

the laws turn into ink on paper,

And it opens the doors to anyone who wants to tamper with the threads of

sectarianism, as if the region does not already have enough turmoil,

until someone comes to blow on the ashes of sectarianism with“ meter and rhyme,”

according to observers.