Iraqi Shiites dread fall of Assad

Believers point worryingly to statements made in Internet postings and on ultraconservative Sunni satellite channels from the Gulf calling for Zainab’s destruction.

While the threats represent a minority, extremist point of view, they are being taken seriously on the streets of Iraq.

Tears welled up in Rasheed al-Sheikh’s eyes when he was asked about the Syrian shrine last week. The 75-year-old money-changer, who does business in Baghdad’s Shiite Kazimiyah neighborhood, heard of threats to the shrine from other merchants.

He said he fully supported sending fighters to Syria.

“Of course this is a good thing. We all love the shrines,” Mr. al-Sheikh said, growing emotional at the thought that the holy sites could be harmed. Sunni extremists, he said, “are serious about these threats. They’ve done it many times before.”

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