\paperw4260 \margr0\margl0 \plain \fs20 \pard\tx720\tx1440\tx2160\tx2880\tx3600\tx4320\tx4896\tx5616\tx6336\tx7056\ATXts240\ATXbrdr0 \f1 \fs24 The battle of Karbala, in the middl
e of the seventh century, determined the great \b \cf1 \ATXht57 schism\b0 \cf0 \ATXht0 in \b \cf2 \ATXht10904 Islam\b0 \cf0 \ATXht0 . The Shiites built two shrines in memory of the victims, the \b \cf2 \ATXht10301 caliphs\b0 \cf0 \ATXht0 Ali and his so
n Hussein. Destroyed and rebuilt many times, they are still the goal of fervent pilgrimages. The domes and \b \cf2 \ATXht11309 minarets\b0 \cf0 \ATXht0 of the circular \b \cf2 \ATXht11311 mosques\b0 \cf0 \ATXht0 are clad with copper and gold leaf, whil
e the walls are finely decorated with glazed majolica tiles. Recent bombings and demolitions have isolated the two sanctuaries from the heart of the old city.
