"Sweet Dates in Basra" by Jessica Jiji, shows that people can be friends despite their racial and religious differences. In the book, a Jewish boy named Shafiq and a Muslim boy named Omar form a life-long "brotherhood" and friendship despite racial and religious implements in 1940's Iraq filled with violence and hatred. 1940's Iraqi hatred toward Jews was heavily influence by Adolf Hitler's Nazi regime and their exclusion of Jews. A major roadblock is throw in the way also as a Midaan (Iraqi tribe) girl named Kathmiya is forced to move to Basra from the marsh suburbs and work as a house- sleep in maid. She and Shafiq become close and a friendship turns into forbidden love. Shafiq and Omar's families show that religion is no barrier to friendship.
In the book, Shafiq and Omar prove that they can be "brothers despite the hatred between their religions. They are also next door neighbors and share notes through a little hole in the wall that divides their two houses. When Omar's father dies, Shafiq is there for Omar as a friend to rely on and as a shoulder to cry on. In Shafiq's family there is always a place for Omar's family. They often have dinner together and all the children seem to be best friends with each other. These families don't seem to care what other people think about them but rather if they're happy with it.
Also in the book, a Muslim Midaan girl named Kathmiya becomes the house maid for Shafiq's older sister. The two grow in and their relationship begins to confuse them as they don't really know if they should express their feelings toward each other and if they actually have feeling for each other. In the beginning they grow into close friends but Shafiq finds her beauty extremely compelling and wishes that he could express her feelings for her although Kathmiya can notice it as it's obvious that he likes her. For Kathmiya, she is disappointed that her parents sent her to the city instead of getting married at 13. As time goes on she realizes that she has feelings for him as she gets turned down continuously by matchmakers but knows she will be banished from Islam and her tribe if she openly likes a Jew. The story really shows how at this time of their lives that things can get confusing and unclear but you should do what YOU want and not what others want. That really symbolizes Shafiq and Kathmiya.
Iraq in the 1940's was very tough for Jews as there were many anti-Jew protests and riiots against Jews in high government postions and just Jews in the country at all. At the same time, there were many Muslims who stood up for Jews as they had known and lived besides them for many years abd knew that they were just being scapegoated. In one case a Muslim protected Shafiq's father's store from anti-Jew looters for no charge. The sentiment against Jews and the book shows that not all people reflect everything that their religion says but what you inside want instead.
In conclusion, at the half-way point there are many interesting and compelling issues have to answered and explained. Will Shafiq and Kathmiya overcome their religions and pronounce there love for each other, or will peer-pressure push them farther away from each other. Will Shafiq and his family leave the country to escape the anti-Jew sentiment or will they try to suck it up and stay in Iraq. Lots of things to be considered but at the Half-Way point this is a very good book.
