The terrorist group Isis stands in front of Baghdad, the Iraqi capital is in turmoil. Situated Whipped Shiites organized into militias, Sunnis react with panic. Gunshots echo.

The cheerleader wears Camouflage, to the white turban of a Shiite cleric: “With our blood, with our lives, we will protect the holy places,” he shouts to the crowd. “Oh Hussein Oh Hussein”, dozens of young men answer him in this Shiite district in northern Baghdad. They stretch their fists, shouting the name of the patron saint of the Shiites, vowing to go to death for their religion into.

Women in black chador pushing at these wannabe heroes by: pilgrims from Iran, they want to shine in the near Kadhimiya shrine whose golden domes and minarets in the evening sun. “We are on the side of Iraq,” assure the Iranians who have traveled a long way to here to pray in one of the most important Shiite shrines in Iraq. “We will be pleased if Iran goes to war to assist our Shia brothers!”

“Harb”, Arabic for “War”: The word is in Baghdad these days everyone is talking about. Since the Sunni terrorist militia “Radical Islamic State in Iraq and Syria” (Isis) over a week ago has captured in a surprise attack large parts of northern Iraq, it’s over with the fragile peace in the Iraqi capital had set up after an exhausting decade of war .

In just a few days of simmering hatred between the two Islamic faiths in Iraq is bright again flared up: About 65 percent of the Iraqi population are Shiites, but it was the Sunnis, who during the reign of Saddam Hussein – had the final say – he also Sunni. After the invasion of the Allies, led by the United States in 2003, shifted the balance of power since the Shiites are at the helm.

Isis Attack in Iraq:The proximity to the front is noticeably

Warnings that Iraq is only one chance to have a stable future, if the Sunnis would be treated fairly and given their share of power and oil money, beat the current government of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki in the wind. This created a situation in which many Disappointed now experienced the offensive of Isis as a liberation from the yoke of the Shiite central government in the Sunni-dominated north of the country. Without the support of the local population of about 1,500 men would be strong bunch of radical Islamists never so quickly advanced to the gates of Baghdad.

Meanwhile, Isis is in some places probably only 40 kilometers from Baghdad. The proximity to the front is noticeable. Again and again race on Wednesday by army vehicles escorted ambulance convoys through the city. The soldiers of the escort vessels are nervous, firing into the air when an intersection is not cleared fast enough.

Always new checkpoints slow down the traffic on pace. The shopping streets are deserted. “Most weddings are canceled,” says Mohammed Fuad, who sits lonely in the famous Karada Street in his shop for evening wear. “We all know that hard times lie ahead.’s Why people prefer to save their money instead to celebrate.” The 24-year-old hopes that the United States – as requested by Iraq’s government – to intervene in the conflict and Isis will weaken with air strikes. “All here are afraid.”

Isis Attack in Iraq:”In order to unite the country again, a miracle has happened”

Journalists who ask questions on the street, are unceremoniously taken away by the secret service. As in the bad old days currently scrambling back every day suicide bombers in Baghdad people to their deaths. Since everything is unusual, perceived as a threat. “You must understand, we are on the highest alert level,” excuse an officer the hour-long interview.

Isis had brushed the weekend with having massacred in 1700 captured Shiites. In Baghdad’s Sunnis are rumors of the first acts of revenge for the atrocities. Men had not come back from shopping, others shot were found. The fear of the death squads, before the sectarian violence is again quite there. “My sister was in 2007 backwards shot because she was Sunni,” said a Sunni interpreters. “My brother have it brought in 2010. We have to get back his body with signs of torture.”

Since then Isis has taken Mosul to Baghdad Sunnis fearing the wrath of the Shiites have imposed a nightly curfew itself. “When it gets dark, I do not go out the door. I do not want to disappear like so many others,” says one.

The politicians endeavor – much too late – to capture the spirits that they have created. On the radio run replaceable appeals of all leaders who evoke the unity of the country. Then again patriotic men singing. “Let’s be honest,” says Fuad evening wear seller. “Iraq has long been divided. To unite the land, a miracle has happened.”

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