Wasit artists produce film tackling religious exploitation and suicide among youth

WASIT — A group of young artists from Al-Numaniyah district in Wasit is producing a short film titled Sawalif Abu Sarhan ma’ Harakat Al-Qurban (Abu Sarhan’s Conversations with the Qurban Movement) to raise awareness about the religious exploitation of youth, particularly the rising suicide cases linked to the extremist group “Al-Alaahiyah,” also known as “Al-Qurban.”

The group, an extremist Shia faction, promotes radical practices, including suicide during religious observances, and elevates Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib to a divine status—an ideology rejected by mainstream Shia beliefs. This extremism has led to multiple suicide cases in Wasit Province, prompting authorities to arrest several members of the group.

Montadhar Al-Masoudi, the film’s director, told 964media, “We are working on this project with a team of around 20 young artists, including actors and technicians. The concept was developed by Diyaa Abu Jaafar Al-Quraishi, while I handled the screenplay and direction.”

The film centers around Abu Sarhan, a wise rural man who notices one of his neighbors being manipulated by the Qurban group to sacrifice himself through suicide. Abu Sarhan uses his wisdom to intervene and prevent the tragedy.

The rise of the “Al-Alaahiyah” group has raised concerns among Iraqi religious leaders and security forces. Mainstream Shia doctrine reveres Imam Ali as the first Imam but does not ascribe divinity to him. In contrast, the Qurban group encourages members to commit suicide through a “lottery” system, claiming it as a form of sacrifice.

Authorities have arrested dozens of the group’s members in recent months. On August 8, two suspected members were detained in Muthanna, while four others were arrested in Al-Numaniyah during an Ashura procession. They were allegedly planning to sacrifice a member as an offering to God.

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