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Shias demand sharia law for constitution
AP, AFP ^ | February 07, 2005

Posted on 02/07/2005 6:39:13 AM PST by presidio9

IRAQ'S Shiite leader, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, and another senior cleric last night set out radical demands that Islam be the sole source of legislation in the country's new constitution.

The shock Shiite move came after Iraq's leading Sunni clerics group yesterday demanded a timetable for the withdrawal of US-led forces as a condition for joining talks on a new constitution. After a leading Shiite cleric issued a statement setting out the position on sharia law, Ayatollah Sistani, the spiritual leader of Iraqi Shiites, made it clear he backed demands for the Koran to be the basis of legislation.

The national assembly set up after last month's US-backed election is to oversee the drawing up of the new constitution. The role of Islam has been at the centre of a dispute between the rival parties and the US-led occupation authority that administered Iraq until last June.

Ayatollah Sistani leads the five most important clerics, known as Marja al-Taqlid, or sources of emulation, who had shown a more moderate face going into the election.

The surprise statement was issued by Sheikh Ibrahim Ibrahimi, a representative of Ayatollah Mohammad Ishaq al-Fayad, a member of the marja. "All the ulema (clergy) and marja, and the majority of the Iraqi people, want the national assembly to make Islam the source of legislation in the constitution and to reject any law that is contrary to Islam," the statement said.

"We warn against a separation of the state and religion, because this is completely rejected by the ulema and marja and we will accept no compromise on this question."

A source close to Ayatollah Sistani said the spiritual leader backed the demand.

The role of Islam was a sticking point when the interim constitution was drawn up under the US-led occupation.

After acrimonious debate and the threat of a veto by US administrator Paul Bremer, the final version completed last March said Islam should be "a source" of legislation.

No law that "contradicts the universally agreed tenets of Islam" would be accepted, the final draft of the "fundamental law" stated.

Following talks with UN special envoy Ashraf Qazi, the Sunni Committee of Muslim Scholars said it would take part in drafting a new constitution only if a date were agreed for US-led troops to leave the country.

"We told him (Mr Qazi) we had conditions and that we would discuss them with the parties that boycotted the polls and would put forward a common stance," said committee spokesman Omar Ragheb.

"These demands focus on reaching a consensus with all political parties on the withdrawal of foreign forces."

The committee, which persuaded the main Sunni religious group, the Islamic Party, to boycott the election, indicated it would press Sunni insurgents to abandon their campaign of resistance if its demands were met.

Meanwhile, Italy tried to secure the release of a woman journalist kidnapped in Baghdad after an ultimatum was posted on an Islamist website giving Rome 72 hours to order a pullout of its 3000 troops.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; War on Terror
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To: Lazamataz
Well then, if they willingly vote themselves into another tyranny, then that is their choice, and I say leave them to their own hell.

And let them know that if just one terrorist is based in or comes from iraq we will nuke them out of existence. They've had their chance

61 posted on 02/07/2005 9:53:42 AM PST by John O (God Save America (Please))
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To: mhking

"So we can go back in there in 20 years and have to do this crap all over again?"

In twenty years, you just might have to go only as far as your front yard to do battle with these people.


62 posted on 02/07/2005 9:55:00 AM PST by DJ Taylor
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To: Inge C
'Iraq The Model' stated in his blog, that there will be no 'Sharia' law established."""

Who is Iraq the Model, and how the h-ll does he know?

63 posted on 02/07/2005 9:55:04 AM PST by churchillbuff
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To: manic4organic
Who is surprised? I'm sick of hearing "the freedom loving people of Iraq who yearn to be free". In last week's paper here in New Hampshire there was a sickening story about a 24 year old Iraqi (living in NH) who voted, blue finger and all right next to a story of a couple of Marines who died in the latest US Embassy bombing. Today I read about "radicals" hunting down and killing barbers. Also, Christians are being killed for being Christians. Don't expect Hate Crime Legislation to make it into the new Iraqi constitution.

Sharia Law, isn't that stoning to death somebody's Mother/Sister/Daughter for committing adultery?

We are being played for suckers while our sons and daughters die.
64 posted on 02/07/2005 9:55:10 AM PST by jackieaxe (CBS must think we are all dumb)
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To: McGavin999
The US Constitution was based on Judeo-Christian principles, should someone have hanged George Washington?

Huge difference Judeo-Christian princilples value and promote life and individual freedom while islam values and promotes terrorism

islam is the enemy

65 posted on 02/07/2005 9:55:31 AM PST by John O (God Save America (Please))
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To: John O

"islam is the enemy"

Now where have I seen that before?

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1222755/posts


66 posted on 02/07/2005 10:00:46 AM PST by DJ Taylor
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To: MetalHeadConservative35

No, we don't go in next time. We just bomb them to nothing. No more sacrifices for these beasts from hell.


67 posted on 02/07/2005 10:07:58 AM PST by bushfamfan
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To: presidio9
The Shiite religious party, while technically comprising 60% of the population, only got around 40% or less of the vote. Ergo they will not be able to implement Sharia over the opposition in the constitution.

Further, the Constitution must pass a referendum. I do not think a the psychotic Sharia law interpretation would pass a referendum AT ALL.

68 posted on 02/07/2005 10:12:11 AM PST by mbraynard
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To: Montfort

We need to make that CLEAR to them. If they choose to go to the extreme, all our money and men LEAVE them to fight and kill each other in the good holy way those Islamists always do. The level of insanity in that part of the world is flabbergasting. We would be condoned to bomb the Middle East to Kingdom Come it is such a hell hole.


69 posted on 02/07/2005 10:17:13 AM PST by bushfamfan
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To: monday
I Don't Like Mondays
70 posted on 02/07/2005 10:20:56 AM PST by presidio9 (We're Americans. We've been kicking ass for 200 years. We're ten and one.)
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To: presidio9
lol..... I don't like mondays either, but I am dangerous, so don't mess w/me;^)
71 posted on 02/07/2005 10:53:52 AM PST by monday
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To: presidio9

Sharia Lawyers... now THERES an oxy-moron if I ever heard one..


72 posted on 02/07/2005 11:00:27 AM PST by hosepipe (This propaganda has been ok'ed me to included some fully orbed hyperbole....)
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To: presidio9
We won't go for this arrangement. Everyone knew including the mullahs that we would not allow a theocracy in a style fashioned after Iran's government anymore than we would allow communists to run the government. We went over there to protect our national and defense interests, and this sure would not be a success which is why any arrangement will give us what we demand. A Muslim Government that allows voting for women, freedom of speech and the right to peaceful assembly by citizens who are opposed to the said government.
73 posted on 02/07/2005 11:02:13 AM PST by conservativecorner
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To: jackieaxe

You are correct, this has turned out to be a complete fiasco. They don't want freedom, they want islam. Democracy will not work in iraq.


74 posted on 02/07/2005 11:05:21 AM PST by G32
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To: MetalHeadConservative35
in 10 years were gonna have to go in and kick their arse

No more liberating these freaks - bomb them to ciders next time, as we should have this time.
75 posted on 02/07/2005 11:25:28 AM PST by milemark (Proud to be an infidel.)
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To: Inge C

EXACTLY! I read the same thing on "Iraq the Model" too.Omar was upset at first and then he said that he decided to wait for confirmation.


76 posted on 02/07/2005 1:02:07 PM PST by Lady In Blue ( President 'SEABISCUIT' AKA George W Bush)
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To: presidio9

This should be a shock to no one


77 posted on 02/07/2005 5:12:58 PM PST by CzarChasm (My opinion. No charge.)
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To: Lazamataz
Well then, if they willingly vote themselves into another tyranny, then that is their choice, and I say leave them to their own hell.

Trading in a dictator for an ayatollah would not be worth the sacrifice of American lives and limbs. Plus, the President, with all of his pretty speeches about fighting tyranny would look very very bad.
78 posted on 02/08/2005 3:13:19 AM PST by jaykay
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