During the recent FIFA World Cup in Qatar, French President Emmanuel Macron extended an invitation to Zinedine Zidane, the legendary French footballer, to attend the final between France and Argentina. However, Zidane declined the invitation, citing unknown reasons. This raised an interesting question: why didn’t the French media and public accuse Zidane of betraying France? Why is it that the French haven’t learned from Iraqis how to handle their cultural, sports, and artistic icons with greater respect? In contrast, Zidane’s rejection didn’t spark the same outrage from the French that a similar situation might have ignited in Iraq. After all, when the president of the French Football Federation criticized Zidane, the French public rallied behind their idol, with figures like Kylian Mbappé even declaring, “Zidane is France, respect our legends.”
In Iraq, the situation is markedly different. Instead of focusing on sports or national issues, the public’s ire was directed at Kazem Al-Saher, the renowned Iraqi singer, after he refused to perform at the opening of the Gulf Cup in Basra. Some social media users began calling for his boycott, while others demanded his Iraqi citizenship be revoked. The singer was accused of forgetting Iraq’s contribution to his career, with some even invoking the disdain of the previous regime to criticize him. The controversy left many wondering: is Iraq’s relationship with Kazem Al-Saher one of favor or insult? The contradictions on the Iraqi street were evident, with religious figures accusing the singer of disrespecting Iraq’s invitation to perform, despite the fact that his concerts were scheduled in Europe, not Iraq.
This all unfolded as the country’s media remained fixated on Al-Saher, rather than discussing the national football team’s preparations or the actual readiness of Basra for the Gulf Cup. Despite Al-Saher offering an apology from the outset and informing the organizers, the Iraqi Football Federation, local government officials, and the media continued to criticize him. This raised suspicions about why so much attention was directed at one man, especially when more pressing national issues remained unaddressed.
The hypocrisy was especially glaring during the opening ceremony of the Gulf Cup, where the crowd cheered enthusiastically for political leaders, despite the fact that many Iraqis view this ruling class as corrupt and sectarian. A question that circulated widely was: “What has Kazem Al-Saher ever done for Iraq?” But should a musician be expected to serve the state in this way? Is it not the government’s responsibility to provide basic services, such as clean water, rather than to engage in petty political point-scoring? The idea that Al-Saher owes something to Iraq, while neglecting the fact that the singer has spent decades representing the country globally, is a misguided notion. The success of Kazem Al-Saher is largely thanks to the cultural influence of Beirut, Cairo, and Tunisia, as well as the poetry of Nizar Qabbani—not Iraq’s political system.
Kazem Al-Saher’s music has been a source of pride for Iraqis, especially during the harsh years of the 1990s when sanctions and international isolation made the mere mention of “Iraqi” an act of defiance. Al-Saher’s songs, including the iconic “Tadhakkar” (Remember), helped maintain the country’s cultural identity during that dark period. Yet, today, some would rather focus on trivial matters than acknowledge the artist’s contribution.
Meanwhile, Iraq’s ongoing issues—such as the lack of clean drinking water in Basra—remain unresolved. Despite repeated promises from successive governments, many Iraqis are still forced to contend with salty, undrinkable water. The question arises: with all the money spent on organizing the Gulf Cup and constructing walls to hide the city’s slums, why hasn’t the government focused on solving basic problems that affect the daily lives of Iraqis?
As Iraq grapples with these issues, one cannot help but wonder whether the public’s fixation on Kazem Al-Saher is a convenient distraction from the government’s failures. The real questions lie in the country’s inability to provide for its citizens, from basic utilities to genuine political reforms. But for now, it seems the focus remains on trivial celebrity disputes, while the country’s deeper problems continue to simmer beneath the surface.