“They have Killed Eid in Iraq” · Global Voices
Amira Al Hussaini

Ninety-one people (and counting) have been killed and 323 injured in a wave of 17 different bomb explosions across Iraq tonight.
The bombings took place in markets, restaurants and cafes, adding fuel to the on-going sectarian strife in Iraq. According to a report on the BBC, this month was the “deadliest Ramadan in years, with more than 670 people killed.” The New York Times, quotes the United Nations, providing another set of figures –  “1,057 Iraqis were killed and 2,326 were wounded in attacks in July, the highest monthly casualty figures since 2008.”
Al Jazeera reporter Rawya Rageh is lost for words. She tweets:
No words.. Death toll in #Iraq now at 91.. 323 injured..
— Rawya Rageh (@RawyaRageh) August 10, 2013
Just an hour before this, she had tweeted:
This is what Iraqis get on the last day of Eid: 13 blasts, 67 people killed, 218 injured.. Will this ever end? #Iraq
— Rawya Rageh (@RawyaRageh) August 10, 2013
Eid celebrations culminate the Muslim holy month of fasting, Ramadan, and is usually a time of joy and family gatherings. Not so for Iraqis, and many Arabs for that matter. London-based Iraqi researcher Hayder al-Khoei laments:
"In my country, Eid has died."
— Hayder al-Khoei (@Hayder_alKhoei) August 10, 2013
In a follow up tweet, he adds:
You would think that car bombs after car bombs would force Iraqi security officials to replace the magic wands. When is enough enough?
— Hayder al-Khoei (@Hayder_alKhoei) August 10, 2013
AFP's Iraq bureau chief Prashant Rao shares a photograph of the bureau's board, where the number of car bombs, and the number of those killed and those injured are tallied. He remarks:
This is becoming an all-too-familiar sight in the @AFP Baghdad bureau: pic.twitter.com/dJZii67X1B
— Prashant Rao (@prashantrao) August 10, 2013
He lists the places where the bombs exploded in Baghdad:
.@AFP tracking car bombs in Husseiniyah, Shaab, Kadhimiyah, Baghdad Jadidah, Amil, Dura, Saidiyah and Jisr al-Diyala areas of Baghdad.
— Prashant Rao (@prashantrao) August 10, 2013
And elsewhere in Iraq:
Iraq attacks today in Baghdad, Tuz Khurmatu, Hilla, Neel (near Hilla), Qaiyarah, and al-Jadaa (south of Mosul). 41 dead, 176 wounded – @AFP
— Prashant Rao (@prashantrao) August 10, 2013
The spate of bombings was met with outrage on social media. From Bahrain, blogger Ali Al Saeed expresses his disgust:
The mad sectarian killing spree continues in #Iraq and not a single Arab leader speaks out against it. Disgusting.
— Ali Al Saeed (@alialsaeed) August 10, 2013
And from France, Ammoun is also shocked by people's indifference to what is happening in Iraq. After sharing links on the breaking news in Iraq, she challenges her followers on Twitter:
Yes I'm flooding your timeline with #Iraq news, because no one else will. If you're not happy with it unfollow & bear it in your conscience.
— Ammoun (@AmmounAAY) August 10, 2013