Pending...

Every now and then my family and I call friends or relatives just to check how they are doing back in Baghdad. And when there are clashes or any bad event, which became more often these days, in a certain area we hurry to send text messages to check on them.


Lately, all the phone calls we made and the SMSs we sent shared the same three words. "Pray for us".


Yesterday we sent three SMSs to three of our cousins. We got the first reply after few moments says that they were OK up to now but only God knows what will happen as no one in his sane mind can think in such kind of environment.


The second reply scarred us before we read it, for it was written in six pages. The mobile kept updating the text message and we kept saying "Allah al Hafudh". Here is the text:

Dear ……..,
Thank God we are ok. But the situation in general is more than tragic. I believe that we have arrived at a stage of no return. Maybe you'll have to exchange your passports as there no longer is a country called Iraq. Hence, you'll have to obtain passports from either the Shia region or Sunni region. It is not worthy to mention that men entering these regions must be wearing head turban, and women in Booshi. It is also preferable to wear traditional slippers instead of regular shoes to avoid embarrassment, and "he who released his warning is not to be lamented if bad events take place. Regards to all.


عزيزتي ________,
الحمد لله نحن بخير و لكن الوضع العام اكثر من مأساوي. و اعتقد اننا بلغنا مرحله اللاعودة فلربما سيكون عليكم ان تبدلوا جوازات سفركم فلم يعد هناك بلد اسمه العراق و عليكم ان تحصلوا على جوازات من الاقليم الشيعي او السني. علما ان الدخول لهذه الاقاليم بالعمامة للرجال و البوشية للنساء و يستحسن لبس (المداس) بدل الحذاء راجين عدم الاحراج و قد اعذر من انذر. تحياتي للجميع.

The third message is still pending...