Baghdad (AFP)
Red neons and light shows have enlightened hundreds of young Iraqis who came to let off steam to the sound of techno beats on a basketball court transformed into a club, an unprecedented scene in Baghdad.
The ground of the People's Stadium, in the center of the Iraqi capital, welcomed on Friday the turntables of DJs, a first for the "Summer Festival".
A few years ago, the sound of the bass was rather associated with the sound of shooting or the echo of explosions of car bombs.
The party began Friday with a motor show: the proud owners of vintage cars, motorcycles and customized quads have roared their gear at noon.
The few women, among the 1,000 participants, made a remarkable entrance with their colorful outfits in a still conservative country.
As soon as the DJ settled behind his mixing desk, young men and women started dancing and singing on Western but also Iraqi hits.
"I love that kind of music," says Layan, dressed in a leather top and made up with care.
"A lot of people say that we are influenced by the West, OK, but there is no difference for me, the important thing is that I no longer have to listen to this music secretly at home. ! "she rejoices, her fist raised in the air.
In nearly 40 years, Iraq has experienced a series of devastating conflicts, from the war against Iran in the 1980s to the American-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein in 2003.
Internal conflicts followed, before the Islamic State (IS) proclaimed a "caliphate" over large parts of the country in 2014. At the end of 2017, Iraq declared its territorial victory against the IS jihadists.
The festival held Friday is one of the latest signs that show that the country is entering a phase of relative stability, accompanied by the withdrawal of concrete walls and checkpoints in the capital.
Ten years ago, such gatherings would have been considered dangerous because of the risk of suicide bombing. But today, cafes and restaurants are full of families or young people who watch, late into the night, recovery groups.
© 2019 AFP