Baghdad Funeral Industry Booming

Muhammad Abdel Kader makes around 20 coffins a day.
Photo by Afif Sarhan/IRIN


Baghdad Funeral Industry Booming


BAGHDAD, (IRIN) - The continuing violence in Baghdad is fueling a boom in the funeral industry.

Back in Saddam Hussein's time, coffin maker Abdul-Wahab Khalil Mohammed used to sell one or two coffins a day at US$5-US$10 each. Now he produces an average of 15 to 20 coffins a day and charges $50-$75 for each one.

"Our business is booming,” said Mohammed pointing to at least seven caskets in front of his tiny shop in Baghdad's central Allawi area.

Professional mourners like 51-year-old Um Ali, who attends funerals to add emotion to the ceremony, are also cashing in. "I feel like I'm a death toll meter. Since the end of 2005, I’ve been doing a daily average of three to five funerals," said Um Ali.

Um Ali, who charges $50-$100 per appearance, is now training one of her daughters and a nephew.

"I can't do more than three to five funerals a day because the security situation means I can't move around Baghdad easily," said Um Ali who limits herself to Baghdad's Shia-dominated neighborhood of Mashtal, unless clients agree to drive her to and from the services.



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We'll help rebuild their economy? It's fucking horrifying what we've done to these people.
:cry: