Warning Baghdad Barbers from Shaving Beards and the Marines Haircut10/08/2005 18:04:40 News from Al-Mendhar - www.almendhar.com
Baghdad – many barbers in Baghdad and the rest of Iraqi cities receive death threats for shaving beards or the short hair cut in the style of the American Marines soldiers.
Various youth of the capital go from their residential areas to Al Sadr city, of the Shiite majority (east of Baghdad) to have haircuts, for fear of being exposed to attacks by Islamists in their regions.
Ammar Qasem, a 20-year old resident of Al Shaab region, which is parallel to Al Sadr Shiite city, said, "Attacks have increased in our region against hair saloons. It became a semi-daily matter, which made us look for another place for shaving without fear." He pointed out, "The district where I live became very dangerous. Most barbers quit their profession for fear of being exposed to kidnapping or murder," He continued, "On one day; four barbers were killed, which made the other close their stores for fear of the same destiny."