Baghdad School of Music and Ballet

Baghdad School of Music and Ballet
 

In Baghdad the secular institutions of Saddam are still struggling on, such as the Baghdad School of Music and Ballet. Dateline recently ran this story about some of  the students and the struggles they face to continue something that contrasts with the walls outside of the school. The story focuses on Leezan Salam, a 17-year old ballet dancer who is 2 months from graduation, and student pianist Mohammed Ramsay. Although their determination and defiance is extraordinary it contrasts with the grime opportunities upon graduation. The school registrar Thena Ibrahim tells how students that have graduated have emigrated or been killed. Sectarian violence is rampant, student Ali was killed by a Sunni suicide bomber coming home from school.
The sectarian violence in Iraq is at one of its highest levels yet. Last week Iraqis were able to vote in parliamentary elections, the results are yet to be announced. Iraq is characterised a majority Shiite Muslims, as well as Sunni Muslims, Christians and ethnics groups such as Arabs and significant proportion of Kurds. The current leader Nouri al-Maliki runs a Shia dominated government. In his previous term he promised coalition of parties which was barely achieved.
The results of the election are due next week although I think it is unlikely the Shia dominated government significantly change. We can only hope for an end to sectarian violence to give children such as Leezan and Mohammed a viable future.