Posted on 02/22/2006 11:55:02 AM PST by SJackson
TEHRAN The serious crime of the terrorists who bombed the holy shrines of the tenth and eleventh Shia Imams, Imam Hadi (AS) and Imam Hassan Askari (AS), on Wednesday in Iraq was an insult to the sanctities of all Muslims.
Undoubtedly, it is a new plot which first of all can be considered as the continuation of the disrespectful move of the European newspapers that published cartoons of the Prophet of Islam.
Secondly, the offensive act was meant to create division between Iraqi Shias and Sunnis and ignite a civil war, following the failure of the plans of the occupiers of the country.
This is a critical juncture for the vigilant Islamic world. Shias certainly know that such moves are not the work of their Sunni brothers but are directed by the hands of the enemies of Islam.
Meanwhile, the Sunni brothers should also be aware that the same terrorists who carried out the criminal act in Samarra yesterday will probably attack their holy sites in the future.
In a message on Wednesday, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution noted that any emotional act carried out due to ignorance about the real enemy of Islam, including any attack against sites that are respected by Sunnis, is haram (forbidden in Islam) and called on Muslims to foil the enemies plots through awareness.
Another issue that should also not be ignored is the fact that the occupier U.S. regime, which has turned Iraqs security to insecurity with its 150,000 troops and military equipment, is the main element responsible for these criminal acts.
Supreme Leader expresses condolences over bombings of Iraqi Shia shrines
In his message, Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei expressed his condolences to Shias and all brave and aware Muslims throughout the world over the bombings earlier in the day of the holy shrines of the tenth and eleventh Shia Imams, Imam Hadi (AS) and Imam Hassan Askari (AS), in Samarra, Iraq.
The Supreme Leader pronounced a week of mourning in Iran over the catastrophic incident. Following are excerpts of his message:
Evil and criminal hands created a great catastrophe today, committing yet another sin by attacking Islamic religious beliefs.
The holy shrines of Imam Hadi (AS) and Imam Hassan Askari (AS) were insulted and destroyed, delivering a heavy blow to the Shias and all other Muslims who respect the household of the Prophet Muhammad (S). This criminal act, which was probably carried out by bigoted and ignorant mercenaries, had undoubtedly been planned by conspirators with wicked and diabolical intentions.
This is a political crime and its roots have to be traced in the intelligence organizations of the Iraqi occupiers and the Zionists. The aggressive powers that perceive the political and social conditions in Iraq as contrary to their objectives devise ominous plans in their heads, some of which to intensify insecurity and create sectarian strife.
The holy shrines in Samarra will once again rise with even greater magnificence than before through the efforts of those who respect the holy Imams, but this criminal act has left a dark stain on the foreheads of the enemies of Islam and Muslims which will not be wiped off for a long time.
I hereby call on mourners in Iran, Iraq, and other parts of the world to seriously avoid any measure that would lead to animosity and aggression among Muslim brothers. Undoubtedly hidden hands are at work to provoke Shias to attack mosques and sites respected by the Sunnis. Any kind of measure to this end is equivalent to supporting the objectives of the enemies of Islam and is haram.
Ayatollah Sistani appeals for calm
Tens of thousands of people have staged protests across Iraq after the bomb attack heavily damaged one of the holiest sites in Shia Islam, BBC reported.
Dozens of Sunni mosques are reported to have been targeted and six Sunnis killed after the blasts.
Iraq's top Shia cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, has appealed for calm and called for a week of mourning.
Iraqi President Jalal Talabani said the country must work to avoid a civil war.
In a television broadcast, Mr. Talabani, a Sunni Kurd, accused the attackers of trying to sabotage attempts to form a coalition government.
"We must work together against the danger of civil war," he said.
No one has claimed responsibility for the attack on the shrine, although Iraqi television said several people had been arrested in connection with the bombing.
Following the attack, thousands of demonstrators gathered near the shrine, waving Iraqi flags and calling for justice.
"We demand an investigation so that the criminals who did this will be punished.
"If the government fails to do so, then we will take up arms and chase the people behind this attack," one of the protesters, 28-year-old Mahmoud al-Samarie, was quoted by the Associated Press news agency as saying.
Western and Muslim leaders alike urged Iraqis to stand back from the precipice of civil war.
"We urge all Iraqis to show restraint in the wake of this tragedy and to pursue justice in accordance with the laws and constitution of Iraq. Violence can only contribute to what the terrorists sought to achieve by this act," said White House spokesman Scott McClellan.
British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw condemned the bombing as an attempt to spark sectarian violence and sabotage efforts to form a broad-based governing coalition two months after general elections.
"This criminal and sacrilegious act follows a series of recent attacks on innocent Iraqis," Straw said in London.
"It is a blatant and despicable attempt by terrorists to try to ignite civil strife and disrupt the process of forming a new Iraqi government," Straw said. "All of us have to appreciate the scale of the anguish caused by the destruction of the golden dome of this most important and historic Shiite site."
France also denounced the bombing of the shrine where Shias believe their beloved 12th Imam, a messianic figure, disappeared in the 9th century CE.
"France steadfastly condemns the attack this morning in Iraq on the mausoleum of the Imams in Samarra," foreign ministry spokesman Jean-Baptiste Mattei told reporters.
In Jordan, King Abdullah II warned that the destruction of the mosque "is aimed at sowing and fanning sectarian strife among the Iraqi people".
"What happened is an attempt to disrupt the efforts being made to enhance national unity rebuild the nation and achieve a prosperous future for Iraq," the king said in a message to Iraqi President Jalal Talabani. Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora, who is himself a Sunni but rules over a country with a large Shia community, warned the bombing was "meant to divide Muslims between Sunni and Shia with the goal of breaking Iraq's unity and unity among Muslims."
Leading Lebanese Shia cleric Seyyed Mohammad Hussein Fadlallah accused the United States of deliberately stoking communal tensions in Iraq in a bid to maintain its "occupation".
"The American occupation is trying to keep its grip on Iraq by benefiting from these crimes that she encourages directly or indirectly," Fadlallah said.
Iraqi Shia radical leader Moqtada Sadr, who had been in Beirut on a visit when news of the bombing broke, rushed back to Baghdad, cutting short a regional tour. Sadr has thousands of militiamen under his command in Shia areas of central and southern Iraq.
It's all a plot by the Danes to take the heat off on the "Cartoon Jihad". Crafty crafty Danes.....
I guess when you are in Orwellian mode, it really doesn't matter if what you say is patently idiotic and illogical. Your oppressed masses must accept what you say or they are killed. So, it is clear to me that the government of Iran is definately involved, if not fully to blame for this attrocity against its own religion. Who else could benefit from civil war besides the jihadist terrorists?
I meant among the nutters over there, not the nutters over here.
:-D )))
Please tell your son how much we apreciate what he is doing......and all the other miliary with him over there...we send a big THANK YOU!!!
Ever get the impression that the entire Arab world is permanantly in denial about JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING???!!!
It comes with the territory, since they seem not to live on this planet.
He thanks you for your support. This is his third action although not in the same branch of service. He also served in the first Gulf War and the Bosnia conflict. War is different today and our soldiers are no longer isolated. I can call or email him anytime. He is a Intel. officer and can only speak of things not classified. I replied to his email yesterday and he replied with a opinion. Below are the emails.
I wrote: Wondered what happen to you. I saw the pictures of the Mosque and it looked near totaled. I would surmise that a Arab Muslim is not necessary the same as a Iraq Muslim. The one logic is that that someone or some faction would seek civil war by promoting conflict between the Sunni and the Shia for agenda. Who would most benefit? Not the main Shia for they already are assured of the most prominent position in a new Government even though they are split as to whether that position be more or less of theology. It is doubtful that they would provoke by destruction of their own Mosques. It would appear that acts of violence by Shia are mostly of revenge. Nor would it seem to be a act by the main of the Sunni who if of clear thought would realize they are severely out numbered and could face possible extinction. There are those of the fringe Sunni who would seek revenge of atrocities or provoke violence to force compromise in Government but they are known by the main Sunni and knowledge of such a act would soon be revealed. Nor would it be the Kurds who would prefer to remain as they are for the present.
It would benefit most a aggressive Arab county or a terror group as Al Queda who would use the destabilization of Iraq Government to promote their own agenda. The most capable of Arab countries would be Iran who has already provided support and expressed wishes for a Iraq government more of Irans theological government. They would provoke such action by the use of a more radical Shia or terrorist group. Just my opinion but the mean IQ of Mideast countries are less than 87 so logic may not be a factor. A theology threaten will commit any act to preserve the theology.
His reply: As for the attack yesterday, you are very close to the truth when you bring Iran into the picture. See, all the Arab countries surrounding Iraq are Sunni dominated. Iraq is the only one that has an abundance of Shia. All of the countries have added something to the dimension of the war over here, but with Iran being right next door, and having the ability to exert itself financially, politically, and militarily without covering up that it has been from their government, they have been the key leader for controlling the govt over here. Ever since the Iran-Iraq war, they have tried to infiltrate Iraq's government, only to be ousted by Saddam Hussein because he was a strict dictator (some things he did helped them). Now that we have come in and busted things open in order rebuild, the country is flooded with Iranian money and influence. There is even rumors that they are bribing the Ministry of the Interior. You can read that much on the internet and draw conclusions for yourself (there is a lot that I cannot discuss because it is classified, but if it is on open source internet then you can look at it and make your own decision.). Getting back to who was responsible for the bombing, it was probably a Sunni group from another nation that has been living in Iraq and supporting the insurgency here. Not too many Iraqi Sunnis want to destroy a mosque in their own country, even if it more revered by the Shias. This does not rule out AQIZ - Al Queda in Iraq - as they would reap success after a civil war and don't really care who dies because they think that most Shia are one step away from becoming infidels like us (because they have been swayed). Zarqawi and his merry men will target anyone or anything they deem are necessary without regard to collateral damage (although they are starting to rethink that one because of the bad press they have been getting after killing children time and time again - there have been at least 80 kids that have died in connection with suicide bombing attacks that can be tied to AQIZ - probably more if someone could prove who was doing all of the attacks). But don't let me go too far about AQIZ; there are dozens of factions operating over here that have the ability to do big things, just not the coordination. Keep watching the blogs and CNN. We are in the middle of the Shia holiday of Ashura. For the last two years, Sunnis have done some really bad things to the Shia during this period. Ashura lasts for 40 days and has a capstone event in Karbala at the end. It is called Arbaeen. If I were a Shia, I wouldn't go out on that day.
OMG! Thank you....he/they are so brave and so smart....our FINEST!!
Please pass my thanks to your son for his activities over there in defense of our country.....and his comments are very encouraging in that it is evidence that our warriors are endeavoring to understand the complexities of the Islamic conflicts....got a young grandson over there in the fight also!
May the good Lord, keep his loving hand over your son and his buddies like a mother hen keeps her wings over her chicks. They serve with honor.
My nephew is back in the states, my cousins's son is on second tour. I continue to hold every one of our men and women up who are serving in places of danger. In faith we must believe He shall spare as many of them from harm as it pleases Him to do so.
Thank you very much.
If you have,or currently do serve, thank you.
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