Multimillion-dollar project to rebuild Holy Najaf

By: Ismail Zabeeh

HOLY CITY OF NAJAF, Iraq: A multimillion-dollar US-Iraq venture to reconstruct the holy city of Najaf, damaged by war and years of neglect, will bring new clinics, new schools and new roads.

This was told by Holy Najaf's top reconstruction official.

Holy Najaf Governor Adnan Az-Zurufi is seeking approval from spiritual leaders (Marjaiyah Ad-Diniyah) and from the prime minister's reconstruction committee to create a 131-yard-wide building-free zone around the Grand holy Shrine of Imam Ali (AS). As-Sadr's office would be razed in the process.

The proposed clearing is nearly twice the size already approved for a clear zone aimed at increasing security and allowing easier access for religious pilgrims and visitors to the holy shrine, said Zurufi's chief of staff, Majid Sahib Jabreen. “Even if they stick with a 71-yard-wide zone, the office will have to go.”

“Everybody wants that (zone) because it'll help a lot visitors and pilgrims to come and visit the shrine,” he added.

With its twin minarets and glinting gold dome, the Holy Haydari Shrine in Holy Najaf has been a beacon for the Muslim faithful for more than 1,200 years.

Religious tourism has been Holy Najaf's lifeblood for centuries, and the shrine is a repository of riches both ancient and modern: Precious gifts from sultans and potentates are housed in the shrine, and offering boxes are stuffed with currency from all over the world.

With the street outside the shrine the site of some horrific attacks since the toppling of worst dictator Saddam, increasing security around the holy compound is a major concern for Najaf authorities.

Hossam Al-Husseini, a spokesman for As-Sadr said Sadr won't budge on Zurfi’s say-so. Only Ayatullah Ali Husseini As-Sistani can make that decision.

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