I came across Yasmina Khadra while looking for authors similar to Khaleed Hossein in terms of style and impact. It’s been a long time since Khaleed published anything, and I'm missing his simple, yet sincere and provocative storytelling.
Luckily, I was able to secure the other day Khadra’s “The Sirens of Baghdad”, a 200-page narrative about life in Baghdad and the tragic conditions that lead people to extremism. This was timely, as the Philippines is also right now struggling with extremists in Marawi, one of the country's major cities in the south.
Luckily, I was able to secure the other day Khadra’s “The Sirens of Baghdad”, a 200-page narrative about life in Baghdad and the tragic conditions that lead people to extremism. This was timely, as the Philippines is also right now struggling with extremists in Marawi, one of the country's major cities in the south.
"The Sirens of Baghdad" tells of a well-digger’s son, a young man of about 20, who was sent to Baghdad for university education but was forced to return to his village because of the American invasion. Back at the village, things seemed to be relatively undisturbed, owing perhaps to the village’s distance from the capital, but already people were increasingly venting--although carefully and cautiously--their frustrations about the war. In the barbershop where people usually converge to listen to news of the day, a philosopher and an old man laid down a challenge by confronting the audience with the truth about the war, about Bush’s invasion, and about how Iraqis had only themselves to blame for losing their bearings.
The young man was a pacifist by nature, but he was also very sensitive. He'd absorb all the pain he hears and carry them all in, like stored energy, to be unleashed one day by American GIs who raided their village and subjected everyone, including the young man’s father, mother and sisters, to torture and humiliation. The sight of his poor, half-naked father being tossed to the ground by screaming GIs was too much for the young man. The Bedouins are proud people. And humiliations such as that could never be forgiven, even by the most pacifist of all.
Bent on revenge, the young man fled to Baghdad only to be confronted by anarchy everywhere. The once city of his dreams was no more. When he met a team of insurgents, he committed himself to their cause. “I’m ready, Sayed. My life’s at your disposal”.
Eventually he was assigned a mission meant to dwarf the attacks of September 11, but he soon found himself struggling with a heavy dilemma. What should he do?
The “Sirens of Baghdad” gives us a look at how violence affects ordinary people, how it turns decent human beings into monsters, and how one must tread on the delicate balance between what is right and what is not.
The young man was a pacifist by nature, but he was also very sensitive. He'd absorb all the pain he hears and carry them all in, like stored energy, to be unleashed one day by American GIs who raided their village and subjected everyone, including the young man’s father, mother and sisters, to torture and humiliation. The sight of his poor, half-naked father being tossed to the ground by screaming GIs was too much for the young man. The Bedouins are proud people. And humiliations such as that could never be forgiven, even by the most pacifist of all.
Bent on revenge, the young man fled to Baghdad only to be confronted by anarchy everywhere. The once city of his dreams was no more. When he met a team of insurgents, he committed himself to their cause. “I’m ready, Sayed. My life’s at your disposal”.
Eventually he was assigned a mission meant to dwarf the attacks of September 11, but he soon found himself struggling with a heavy dilemma. What should he do?
The “Sirens of Baghdad” gives us a look at how violence affects ordinary people, how it turns decent human beings into monsters, and how one must tread on the delicate balance between what is right and what is not.
RSS Feed
