MAKKAH, 22 September 2006 — With the breakdown of law and order following the US invasion and occupation of Iraq in 2003, an insurgency against US forces and a civil war that is biting away at the fabric of society, have erupted.

Iraqi pilgrims in Makkah spoke to Arab News about their once-in-a-lifetime journey to the Kingdom for Umrah and about life in what has now become one of the Middle East’s most volatile regions.

With the Grand Mosque being a focal point for Muslims from across the globe to converge — a number of pilgrims from across Iraq undertook an arduous and perilous journey to be blessed with the opportunity of visiting the holy sites of Islam.

Negotiating violent highway robbers, facing humiliation at the hands of rude American marines and experiencing a sense of nervousness and worry at what may be round every turn in the road are just some of the difficulties the Iraqi pilgrims have had to face in order to come to the Kingdom.

“It’s humiliating living in Iraq. The trip to the Kingdom took longer than usual. When the American soldiers learned we were going to Makkah for Umrah, they blocked the road and made us wait for nine hours at a checkpoint,” said Yousuf Kazem from Basra.

Kazem explained how the bus was “boiling hot” and people were getting frustrated with children crying as US soldiers manhandled the passengers and thoroughly searched the bus and their luggage. Speaking about the security crisis presently in Iraq, Kazem broke down in tears and said, “They told us they wanted to liberate us, bring democracy to Iraq and free us from a dictator.

“To tell you the truth, it is not safe to live in Iraq. Because of the occupation there are bombings and killings everyday. Iraq is totally unstable,” he said.

When questioned why he blames US forces, Kazem said, “It is their fault. Iraqis are living in a hell. People cannot sleep at night because of the American presence in Iraq, which is behind all the violence we see now.” The pilgrims traveled from Iraq to Syria by bus and then flew from Damascus to Jeddah.

Ammar Naji, an Iraqi pilgrim from Baghdad thanked the Saudi government for its hospitality and the welcome the pilgrims received on arriving at Jeddah airport.

“The road from Iraq to Syria is very dangerous because of the lack of security and because of the armed gangs who kill innocent people for money. After we reached Syria, it was easy to find a flight to Jeddah,” he said, adding that the pilgrims were welcomed very well in the true Saudi way and that they were showered with gifts.

“I just hope that the Saudi-Iraqi border would be opened one day because that will make traveling to Saudi Arabia much easier and cheaper,” he added.

Speaking about the widespread kidnappings and killings, Iraqi woman pilgrim Aleya Jabr asked, “How could you live in peace when you know that you are not safe inside your own house?” Jabr added that kidnappings took place everyday with criminal gangs demanding ransom to release victims.

“My kids don’t go to school because we’re scared someone will kidnap them. We ask the Arab countries to stand next to us and help Iraq rise again. I truly blame the US and occupation forces for making it easy for gangs and criminals to freely operate. We are being terrorized by such gangs,” said Jabr.

What about the terrorists and the inter-sectarian violence? “The Americans have brought instability in the country and it is because of them that there are killings,” she said.

Jabr described the feelings of calm and peace he felt when entering Saudi Arabia, saying that the Iraqi pilgrims felt relieved and were able to fall asleep as their bus calmly made its way from Jeddah to Makkah without the fear of criminals and gangsters lying in wait.

Another pilgrim was Falah Hussein who says he has been arrested by US soldiers on a number of occasions. Falah was once detained for more than two months and says he does not know why he was arrested.

“I left my office in Baghdad when five American military vehicles stopped in front of the office and dragged me into a vehicle as if I was a garbage bag. They took me to the Um Kaser area in Basra, in southern Iraq. Later inside the prison they told me that I was arrested because I had pushed an American soldier, which was untrue,” said Falah.

Falah explained the brutality with which US soldiers would treat Iraqis. “When there was a sandstorm they made us sleep outdoors in tents. The tents would just blow away. It was hell,” he said.

“They would interrogate us three or four times a week. After two months they released me saying that I was no longer a suspect. The Americans are not helping the Iraqi people in fact they are giving free-reign to gangs to kill innocent Iraqis. I don’t know when all this will come to an end,” he said, adding, “We are here in a blessed place, let us pray for peace.”