Reporter’s Notebook: Politics and prayer

FRIDAY, March 5

Life appears to grind to a halt for two hours every Friday morning in Baghdad's Shiite stronghold of Sadr City. Dust seems to be suspended, frozen even, in the air. The children play noiselessly in the streets. The reason for this cessation of activity? Friday prayers.

Two days before key legislative elections, the city’s political and religious leaders are out in force at the mosque. In white or black turbans and long robes, they pack out the front rows of the prayer room as the faithful praise the name of the prophet Hussein.

Infamous Shiite leader Muqtada Sadr is the only missing face. But this is not unusual. Is the radical young chief hiding in Qom, Iran, or Kufa, Iraq? Wherever he is, the hero of anti-American Iraqis called upon his fellow citizens to vote on Sunday and his supporters in Sadr City are now awaiting his instructions on how they should vote.

Meanwhile, Sadr’s representative is at the mosque praying at the top of his lungs. In between prayers, he hollers out his party’s fundamental views to the people. Sadr’s movement hasn’t changed and neither has Sadr City.

Friday prayer in Sadr City Shiite faithful attend the great prayer Friday morning in Sadr City.Lucas Menget for FRANCE 24 Prayer timeLucas Menget for FRANCE 24 The faithful are not here only to pray but to get voting instructions from their leaders.Lucas Menget for FRANCE 24 During the prayer, the streets of Sadr City are desertedLucas Menget for FRANCE 24 All of the city’s religious and political leaders gather at the mosqueLucas Menget for FRANCE 24 Lucas Menget for FRANCE 24 Lucas Menget for FRANCE 24 Lucas Menget for FRANCE 24 Lucas Menget for FRANCE 24

Read Thursday's note