I'm tired of tourists asking me how I feel about ' مختار الثقفي' (Mukhtar Al-Thaqafi).

Mukhtar Al-Thaqafi was a governor of Kufa who sought to avenge the murder of Al-Hussein ibn Ali during the revolt of Al-Mukhtar in the 7th century. Through this revolt, he succeeded in killing the killers of Hussein and the Umayyad governor responsible for the event.<br><br>If you are from a Gulf country or Egypt and have visited Iraq, I'm sure you have met a lot of Iraqis who asked you how you felt about this particular character.<br><br>To clarify, the majority of Gulf countries and Egypt were becoming increasingly hostile towards Iraq after the execution of the Iraqi president Saddam Hussein, and only after Iraq's political shift away from Iran did they relax their stance. However, a large portion of these countries' populations continue to harbor a strong hostility towards Iraqis. Because of the sectarian nature of the conflict, which was ignited by the US occupation of Iraq in 2003, the population of these countries views Iraqis with suspicion, if not outright hatred.<br><br>Mukhtar's revolt was a defensive rebellion, and not an offensive invasion like the pre-Islamic Persian Empire. Iraq is surely a less wealthier and weaker country than it was before the US occupation, so Iraqis are unlikely to invade their neighbors any time soon. After all, the Iraqi army was significantly weakened by the war that began in 2003.<br><br>Many Iraqis are frustrated with this situation and want to communicate their frustration. That's why you might hear them asking about Mukhtar Al-Thaqafi. By asking, they are essentially saying, "I'm not a sectarian, but you are." They are frustrated with the lack of freedom to travel and the treatment they receive when they do.<br><br>It's worth noting that the Arab countries that are hostile toward Iraq have also been accused of disregarding the rights of minority sects within their own nations. For example, some of these countries have poor human rights records, and the human rights situation is worse in countries like Bahrain, where the Shi'a majority is denied their right to political representation.<br><br>In conclusion, Iraqis often bring up the name of Mukhtar Al-Thaqafi to convey that they will not be treated unfairly without saying anything. This is a form of self-defense, and not a form of offending or becoming aggressive, although some might express aggression and say it with an insulting tone.<br><br>So, if you're an Iraqi who reads this, let's show some respect and dignity.<br><br>And to those from the Gulf, Egypt, and other countries that are hostile toward Iraq, please understand that Iraqis have the right to express their frustration. If you don't want Iraqis to talk about Mukhtar Al-Thaqafi, you should address their grievances and acknowledge their rights.<br><br>This post is primarily addressed to Arab tourists visiting Iraq.<br><br> Sorry if I didn't mention a country from this region because I don't know much about their perception of Iraq generally.<br><br>This post doesn't necessarily represent the views of most Iraqis , but my own personal views, however, you will find a lot of Iraqis agreeing with the points I mentioned above.