Region | Iraq

Sunnis fear wall dividing Iraqis

Criticisms escalate over a wall that US troops are building around a Sunni area in Baghdad. The barrier is a form of "collective punishment", residents say.

  • Agencies
  • Published: 00:00 April 21, 2007
  • Gulf News

  • US troops are building a wall around a Sunni enclave in Baghdad, part of a strategy to 'break the cycle of sectarian violence' in the Iraqi capital.
  • Image Credit: AP
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Baghdad: Criticism mounted on Saturday over a wall that US troops are building around a Shiite-surrounded Sunni area in Baghdad.

Residents, who were alarmed about the plan, call it "collective punishment". They said they had not been consulted about the barrier being built in their neighbourhood.

"This will make the whole district a prison. This is collective punishment on the residents of Azamiyah," said Ahmed Al Dulaimi.

"They are going to punish all of us because of a few terrorists here and there," the resident said.

The US military says the wall is mean to protect the Sunni community of Al Adhamiyah from sectarian violence.

Al Adhamiyah would be completely gated, with entrances and exits manned by Iraqi soldiers. The wall will be five kilometres long and include sections as tall as 3.5 metres.

Resident Khalid Ibrahim said the wall will only divide Iraqis. "This is good if it is temporary, to help the area with security problems. But if this wall stays for the long term, it will be a catastrophe for the residents," Ibrahim said.

Community leaders also complained that construction began before they had approved the proposal.

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