Frankenstein in Baghdad

by

Ahmed Saadawi

Sectarian Violence Term Analysis

Sectarian violence is a conflict that opposes different sects of a certain religion. More specifically, sectarian violence in Iraq refers to the conflict between two strands of Islam: Shiite Muslims (a majority in Iraq) and Sunni Muslims (a minority). The rift between the Shiite and Sunni derives from centuries-old theological disagreements. However, in modern times, it has taken the form of violent political conflict. During the period covered by Frankenstein in Baghdad, Sunni and Shiite militias viciously fought amongst each other—as well as against the provisional Iraqi government, allied with the U.S. military. The escalation of violence between these groups led to the eruption of the Iraqi Civil War from 2006 to 2008, which caused hundreds of thousands of deaths and over 4 million refugees.

Sectarian Violence Quotes in Frankenstein in Baghdad

The Frankenstein in Baghdad quotes below are all either spoken by Sectarian Violence or refer to Sectarian Violence. For each quote, you can also see the other terms and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Truth, Lies, and Storytelling Theme Icon
).
Chapter 9 Quotes

The Whatsitsname talked about the night he met the drunk beggars. He said he tried to avoid them, but they were aggressive and charged toward him to kill him. His horrible face was an incentive for them to attack him. They didn’t know anything about him, but they were driven by that latent hatred that can suddenly come to the surface when people meet someone who doesn’t fit in.

Related Characters: The Whatsitsname, The Four Beggars
Related Symbols: The Digital Recorder
Page Number: 130-131
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 10 Quotes

The young madman thinks I’m the model citizen that the Iraqi State has failed to produce, at least since the days of King Faisal I.

Because I’m made up of body parts of people from diverse backgrounds—ethnicities, tribes, races, and social classes—I represent the impossible mix that never was achieved in the past. I’m the first true Iraqi citizen, he thinks.

Related Characters: The Whatsitsname (speaker), Hadi Hassani Aidros , The Young Madman, The Old Madman, The Eldest Madman
Related Symbols: The Digital Recorder
Page Number: 146-147
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 11 Quotes

Yes, for a year or more he’s been carrying out the policy of the American ambassador to create an equilibrium of violence on the streets between the Sunni and Shiite militias, so there’ll be a balance later at the negotiating table to make new political arrangements in Iraq. The American army is unable or unwilling to stop the violence, so at least a balance or an equivalence of violence has to be created. Without it, there won’t be a successful political process.

Related Characters: Ali Baher al-Saidi (speaker), Mahmoud Riyadh al-Sawadi, Brigadier Sorour Mohamed Majid
Page Number: 177-178
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 18 Quotes

Some claimed it was part of the wall of Abbasid Baghdad and was the most important discovery in Islamic archaeology in Baghdad for many decades. Others ventured to speak, rather boldly, about the “advantages of terrorism,” which had enabled this important discovery. But the Baghdad city authorities ignored all this and took everyone by surprise by filling the large hole with soil. The spokesman for the city authorities said, “We do not take half measures. We’re going to preserve these remains for future generations, and they can judge for themselves how to deal with them. If they decide to demolish the whole Bataween district, that’s their business, but for now we have to repave the street.”

Page Number: 266
Explanation and Analysis:
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