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A Fatwa Against Violence--Top Sunni and Shia clerics look toward reconciliation
Wall Street Journal ^ | August 25, 2007 | ROBERT MCFARLANE

Posted on 08/26/2007 10:10:12 PM PDT by Ooh-Ah

Last week, I participated in a three day meeting here that included six of the most senior Iraqi Sunni and Shia religious leaders. At the meeting, held at a Marriott hotel in a Cairo suburb, they formally agreed to "end terrorist violence, and to disband militia activity in order to build a civilized country and work within the framework of law."

This gathering was a truly historic event, given the authority of the participants -- including Sheikh Ahmed al Kubaisi, acknowledged by all Iraqis as the senior Sunni religious authority (the weekly audience for his Friday sermons, broadcast from Dubai, number 20 million), and Ayatollah Sayyid Ammar Abu Ragheef, chief of staff for Grand Ayatollah Ali al Sistani, the acknowledged leader of the Shia community in Iraq and beyond. One has only to consider the power of these specific religious leaders, and the instruments at their disposal for getting results, to grasp the gathering's enormous potential importance.

Going well beyond traditional rhetoric in their closing statement late last week, they stated their intention to work for the early issuance of a joint Sunni-Shia fatwa to the Iraqi people. A fatwa such as this will carry the force of law for all followers. Think about that. After more than four years of brutal warfare and untold suffering, the leading religious authorities in Iraq have joined hands and said "Enough," and have committed to use their authority to bring peace to their country.

...

... one of the factors which motivated these very senior leaders to come together was their common goal of getting the U.S. out of Iraq ... Just as important, however, was their alarm over growing Iranian influence in southern Iraq and the common sentiment among them that they do not want to be dominated by Iran.

(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...


TOPICS: Editorial; Foreign Affairs; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: iran; iraq; shia; sunni

1 posted on 08/26/2007 10:10:16 PM PDT by Ooh-Ah
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To: Ooh-Ah

Flash foreward 2008- Bush seen as hero, Iraq pays for all war expenses with oil revenues, Dems weep in sorrow as party loses both houses and the White house. Pelosi, Boxer, et al plead to switch parties to Republican so they may continue to suck off tax payer money.


2 posted on 08/26/2007 10:17:53 PM PDT by Mark (REMEMBER: Mean spirited, angry remarks against my postings won't feed even one hungry child.)
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To: Ooh-Ah
So now Bush and the Iraqis have a successful military surge, a successful political surge and here even a religious surge. Meanwhile the Democrats are still singing a dirge.
3 posted on 08/26/2007 10:25:13 PM PDT by JohnBovenmyer
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To: Ooh-Ah

**Top Sunni and Shia clerics look toward reconciliation**

Oh, my goodness!

What will the dimocrats say now at they leave brown spots on the floor??


4 posted on 08/26/2007 10:28:01 PM PDT by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: Ooh-Ah

All mighty great Spirit, Let this be true!

How I PRAY!

Let it be SO!

AMEN!


5 posted on 08/26/2007 10:46:59 PM PDT by Danae (Anail nathrach, orth' bhais's bethad, do chel denmha (Smoke clears and Fred Thompson is President))
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To: Ooh-Ah

Well ... we’ve been grumbling about the lack of this since 9/12. So here it hopefully comes in a couple more weeks.

Now it is really going to get interesting.


6 posted on 08/26/2007 10:48:27 PM PDT by Bobibutu
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To: Ooh-Ah

McFarland wrote this??? I just now noticed that. DAMN just DAMN! Oh this is the Best News out of Iraq since the Fall and capture of Saddam!


7 posted on 08/26/2007 10:52:31 PM PDT by Danae (Anail nathrach, orth' bhais's bethad, do chel denmha (Smoke clears and Fred Thompson is President))
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To: Danae

In the Name of Jesus, Amen


8 posted on 08/26/2007 10:54:08 PM PDT by skr (Car bombs and IEDs are the exclamation marks for the latest Democrats' talking points.)
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To: Ooh-Ah

Just remember, it is permissible to lie in islam to further an end.


9 posted on 08/26/2007 11:07:23 PM PDT by taxesareforever (Never forget Matt Maupin)
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To: Ooh-Ah

BTTT


10 posted on 08/26/2007 11:08:26 PM PDT by Danae (Anail nathrach, orth' bhais's bethad, do chel denmha (Smoke clears and Fred Thompson is President))
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To: Ooh-Ah; Admin Moderator

This should be on the sidebar!


11 posted on 08/26/2007 11:09:09 PM PDT by Danae (Anail nathrach, orth' bhais's bethad, do chel denmha (Smoke clears and Fred Thompson is President))
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To: Mark

Ah, what a vision!


12 posted on 08/26/2007 11:11:36 PM PDT by bethtopaz (A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you hav)
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To: Danae

From: http://www.libertarianleanings.com/2007/08/fatwa-against-v.html?referer=sphere_related_content

August 25, 2007
Fatwa Against Violence

I’ve been on Bud McFarlane’s mailing list ever since I got his permission to republish an editorial of his that appeared in the Wall Street Journal. The column described a conference of Iraqi religious leaders that took place in Baghdad this past June that was organized by Canon Andrew White, an Anglican priest who has spent the last ten years in Iraq.

On the last day of the conference the delegates pledged to reconvene as soon as possible. A final settlement will likely take some time. But current plans call for a second meeting to be held in Cairo in August. The irony of this possibly historic work is that it is operating on a shoestring. Mr. White has organized a nonprofit in the U.S. and is now trying to raise the fairly modest sums needed to keep this trialogue going. If you’d like to know more about his efforts, please send me a note.

I sent him a note. I asked his permission to post the editorial, and since then I’ve been among those getting updates on progress toward that second meeting to be held in Cairo in August. It happened this past week. Here is the text of the agreement that was reached.

By the Mercy of Allah

Thanks be to God and Peace be Upon His Prophet and His Family and Friends

On the date of 22nd August 2007, in Cairo, Egypt in two continuous meetings, the present situation in Iraq has been discussed with all its problems and complexities. After long discussions all those meeting have decided it is necessary to begin a process of engagement including the highest level of religious leaders as soon as possible. This engagement will focus on reducing violence, and working together for peace, the ending of terrorist violence and the disbanding of militia activities in order to build a civilised country and to work in the framework of law. Those listed have committed to:

1 To form a preparatory committee to bring in the recommendations of the above

2 To work toward the spreading of the Spirit of Unity and brotherhood

3 To commit to meeting together every 15 days

4 To actively engage with other influential and proactive religious leaders with the highest qualifications in order to issue a comprehensive (Sunni and Shia) Fatwa against violence

Sheikh Dr Ahmed Al Kubasi

Ayatollah Ammar Abu Ragheef

Sheikh Fateh Kashif Al Ghittah

Sheikh Dr Abdul Latif Humayeem

Sheikh Mustapha Al Jabory

It may seem a modest achievement. But according to Mr. McFarlane, Sheikh Ahmed al Kubaisi whose name is among those who signed on, is Iraq’s senior Sunni religious leader. His Friday sermons, which are broadcast each week from Dubai, reach an estimated 20 million people. His word carries weight, so it is not unreasonable to believe something will come of this initiative.

Posted by Tom Bowler at 09:23 AM | Permalink
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13 posted on 08/26/2007 11:11:58 PM PDT by Danae (Anail nathrach, orth' bhais's bethad, do chel denmha (Smoke clears and Fred Thompson is President))
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To: Danae

http://frrme.convio.net/site/PageNavigator/IIRC_CAIRO

A picture is worth a THOUSAND words:
http://frrme.convio.net/site/PhotoAlbumUser?AlbumID=5178&view=UserAlbum


14 posted on 08/26/2007 11:22:37 PM PDT by Danae (Anail nathrach, orth' bhais's bethad, do chel denmha (Smoke clears and Fred Thompson is President))
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To: Ooh-Ah

Do you believe this tripe?


15 posted on 08/27/2007 12:10:13 AM PDT by kinoxi
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To: Ooh-Ah
The old man, Al Sistani- still carries a lot of weight. I'm suprized he's still alive, despite everal attempts by Mookie to knock him out of the picture.

If the Sunni Imams can control their minions, something just might come of this.

Do we see a big sweep and round up of Iranian "insurgents" in the near future? That would be a lot of egg on AmadJihadi's face, and really turn things around for Bush.

16 posted on 08/27/2007 3:42:20 AM PDT by Nathan Zachary
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To: Ooh-Ah

BTTT


17 posted on 08/27/2007 10:10:44 AM PDT by Danae (Anail nathrach, orth' bhais's bethad, do chel denmha (Smoke clears and Fred Thompson is President))
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To: Ooh-Ah

“one of the factors which motivated these very senior leaders to come together was their common goal of getting the U.S. out of Iraq ... Just as important, however, was their alarm over growing Iranian influence in southern Iraq and the common sentiment among them that they do not want to be dominated by Iran.”

Sorry boys, pick ONE. Ya can’t have both.


18 posted on 08/27/2007 11:07:30 AM PDT by Shazolene
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To: Shazolene

bttt


19 posted on 08/27/2007 2:06:19 PM PDT by Danae (Anail nathrach, orth' bhais's bethad, do chel denmha (Smoke clears and Fred Thompson is President))
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