For centuries Iraqi fishermen have plied the waters of the Tigris, netting giant freshwater fish and preparing them for the traditional masgouf dinner, served on Baghdad’s palm-fringed river banks.
But in a gruesome twist to the war, the country’s national dish is under threat because even the most devoted fish-lovers are concerned about what else lurks beneath the green waters of the ancient river.
Abu Ayyad, 55, comes from a family of Tigris fishermen. His father fished the waters in Baghdad, as did his grandfather and, he believes, generations before that. Now, though, he is reduced to preparing and serving farmed carp because the public refuses to eat fish taken from the river.
“Personally, I still think the river fish is the best, but because of the situation few of my customers will touch it,” said the masgouf seller, who runs a grotty roadside stall in the Jadriyeh neighbourhood of Baghdad.
By the “situation” he means that so many bodies have been dumped in the river during the sectarian bloodletting that has divided the capital that residents do not go near the water. They would certainly not consume what comes out of it, particularly the large fish that feed off the Tigris riverbed.
Some Islamic religious leaders have even issued fatwas, declaring that fish caught in the river are unclean and unfit for human consumption.
“I still like to eat fish once a week, but it is not quite the same as before,” said Ali, a regular customer, who stopped by Abu Ayyad’s stall yesterday to select a fish for cooking and then returned later to pick it up for his family’s lunch. “We have only been eating farmed fish for the past year.”
The traditional recipe has been prepared in Baghdad for centuries. In happier times the fishermen would bring their boats up along the banks and prepare brushwood fires. The fish would be cleaned, gutted and cut down the back to form a circle and then grilled upright against an open fire.
Whole families would sit out in the cool of the evening and consume masgouf with bread and salads. To this day masgouf is still prepared by Iraqi exiles, including members of the once-vibrant Jewish community, who were forced out of the country half a century ago.
But, like in so many parts of modern Iraq, the conflict has destroyed the old traditions. The once-popular stretch of river, known as Abu Nawas, where masgouf restaurants were open late into the night is a no-go area these days for vehicles and most pedestrians.
Located directly opposite Baghdad’s heavily protected green zone, where the American and British embassies are, it is a dangerous place to visit, particularly after dark, when insurgents have been known to use the area as a firing point for mortars and rockets.
Instead, masgouf lovers have to resort to buying their fish on the grubby roadside amid swarms of flies and car exhaust fumes. A good-sized fish can still feed a family, but the magic of the meal has been lost.
“Hopefully, one day we can go back to the old ways and have our masgouf as it should be beside the Tigris,” said Ali, grabbing his takeaway fish and rushing back home. “Until then this is the best we can do.”
I dont understand. This is the health Ministers job and has nothing to do with religion. Why dont they keep their business to Islam and leave this kind of stuff to the government.
I dont understand. This is the health Ministers job and has nothing to do with religion. Why dont they keep their business to Islam and leave this kind of stuff to the government.
I have to tell you that for centuries this river has been used to dump dead animals and other strange carcasses. I used to go on river cruises with my friends and many times we saw dead donkey, dogs, cats float past us. The fish ate those carcasses and we ate the fish and we are still here. These clerics just love to issue fatwas so they can pretend to everyone that they care. Its all for show.
Zimo. Dont forget the untreated sewerage water thats been pumped into the river since the sanctions. These clerics are full of crap. They just want to make a name for themselves. The sooner we are rid of them the better for Iraq.
I spoke to a friend in Baghdad who lived close to me on Abu Nawass. I asked him what he thought of the latest Fatwah. He replied "yalllllllaaaaaa...beqat 3al masgooof!".
This will add more flavour, texture, colour and goodness to our fish. It's almost unique in the world. I hope our mullah's are enjoying it. it will give them strength to carry on with their fatwas, good bless them all and their carp.
Hi Calm. In fact I always preferred Shabout to Carp when choosing fish for my Masgouf. Carp is seasonal and best eaten when the river is less muddy because it can have a bitter muddy oily taste if you catch it out of season. Being bottom dwellers they have a tendency to eat less desirable food elements such as the sewage and dead fish. Iraq needs a good aquaculture system, so this could be for the best until the environment is cleaned up but as zimzim said, Its the responsibility of the Ministry of Health to issue statements like these and not the clerics job to issue fatwas. We are not living in the 16th century after all.
Its the responsibility of the Ministry of Health to issue statements like these and not the clerics job to issue fatwas. We are not living in the 16th century after all.
Thanks for all your responses so far. your comments prove that the good people of Iraq4yu love their mezgoof and hate their Mullahs, which is how it should be.
I dont understand. This is the health Ministers job and has nothing to do with religion. Why dont they keep their business to Islam and leave this kind of stuff to the government.
Because they are the government! gag again me
< Message edited by YellowSunshine -- 7/13/2007 12:56:58 PM >
_____________________________
Faith, Hope and Love, the Greatest of these is LOVE!!!
"In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act." George Orwell
Posts: 479
Score: 9 Joined: 10/26/2004 From: California Status: offline
quote:
ORIGINAL: Calm
Do the fish know they are eating humans? they probably needs educating! They don't know where these humans been. Dohhhhhhhhhhh
I should issue fatwa to catch the fish and hang til they die.
Yah, also don’t forget they have to be taught to distinguish between “Halal” and “Haram” human bodies, since some foreign solders may not be circumcised. Which means their meat is "Haram".
Carp don't have computers, computers don't work under water, and there is no way they can get into an internet cafe, it isn't safe either. How do I know? I dropped my mobile in the sink filled with water. Trying send a message with a peageon. Make sure the paper is waterproof.
Dudes. The Carp can start their own party called the national carp party of Iraq. Now hold on, that should read The national Crap party of Iraq and we have one of those already. You know, the one headed by Al Maliki!
Good god LOB you can't compare the two, carp and crap, there is a whole of a different my friend. Did you know the best brain food is fish? Does this answer your dilma, well someone isn't eating enough fish, guess who?
Main Page
Log In
Register
Printable Version
Clerics issue Fatwah against carp! - 
RE: Clerics issue Fatwah against carp! - 
gag again 
Let's send the fish an email
calm, my goodness... 
New Messages
No New Messages
Hot Topic w/ New Messages
Hot Topic w/o New Messages
Locked w/ New Messages
Locked w/o New Messages
Post New Thread