Hilla Demonstrations Point To Problems

Juan Cole 12/08/2003

Hilla Demonstrations Point to problems of Legitimacy

Mariam Fam of AP notes that there has been a popular movement of protest against the American-appointed mayor of the Shiite city of Hillah. His opponents accuse him of having been a Baath party member, of having collaborated, and of being corrupt and nepotistic.

There have been similar popular protests against the governing councils in Amara and Nasiriyah.

Questions about the legitimacy of the municipal councils are crucial because they will help elect the new body that will in turn elect the transitional parliament. Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani considers the present councils and mayors undemocratic.

About the Author

Juan Cole is the founder and chief editor of Informed Comment. He is Richard P. Mitchell Distinguished University Professor in the History Department at the University of Michigan He is author of, among many other books, Muhammad: Prophet of Peace amid the Clash of Empires and The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam. Follow him on Twitter at @jricole or the Informed Comment Facebook Page