We are glad to be held up by the Iraqi Authorities crossing the wire from the US base into the real Iraq. It’s a long process getting from A to B. Hold ups, checking papers, Check-points, loud speakers urgently pressing a vehicle through. There’s an argument with fiery gesticulations so we keep our heads down and lock doors. We don’t photograph although the situation has all the drama that any film maker would be happy to catch. This is serious yet we put on our mask of smiles. I draw quietly in my little book (above) before our vehicle is sniffed by a friendly dog and our bags and bodies are searched (right) and we are finally allowed to pass. Free of military escort and firmly driving through Iraq we are happy to have only Iraqi’s around us.
The headmistress of the Medrassa welcomes us three Brits and our wonderful Iraqi interpreter who wishes to remain anonymous. It’s a short class 45 minutes divided by 5 for the five classrooms that I am shunted too. The children are gorgeous and I try my best to explain that I like drawing in my books and I want them to draw something for me. The first class I ask to draw a Magic Tree. The second, their favourite fruit. The third, who are older, a scene from a thousand and one nights, the fourth an animal they love and the fifth class is studying the Koran. I explain that it would be inappropriate to draw the human face and instead imagine looking over the desert with the moon rising as the sun sets as the Prophet would have seen and paint a picture of this for their teacher Mrs Souad.
Its easier to get back into the base than leave. The Ugandan security guards smile after our papers are checked. We rush to the hotel to meet two people from the Christian community here in Baghdad (above) The first is an elderly lady with lots of energy. Gwynneth Llewellyn has come from Denmark with donations to help this persecuted minority. I give her some Yorkshire tea for which she is very grateful. She talks of Gertrude Bell who met her mother and the grave of Ezekiel that she visited yesterday. The second is her guide, Cannon Andrew White from the Anglican denomination. The celebrated author and personality talks of Abraham, the Book of Job and how ‘societies break down when religion goes bad.’
Operation ‘Ark’ – Day 13 from xavtv on Vimeo.
Xavier Pick 