Middle-east Arab News Opinion | Asharq Al-awsat

Iraqi Clan Clashes and Sistani Condemns Attacks on Sunni Mosques | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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Iraqi Security Forces search vehicles in Basra- Reuters


Iraqi Security Forces search vehicles in Basra- Reuters

Iraqi Security Forces search vehicles in Basra- Reuters

The Shiite Marja’ (religious reference), Ayatollah Ali Sistani, denounced recent bombing of Sunni mosques in the Diyala governorate (65 Km East Baghdad), which is an area diverse in ethnicities and sects of Shiite factions and militants.

Moreover, Abdul Mahdi al-Karbalai, official representative of Ayatollah Sistani, during his Dec 15th Khutbah (a speech given at the congregation prayer on Friday), denounced the attacks on both the mosques and citizen houses in the town of Miqdadiyah- Diyala.

He also warned of the dangerous consequences the attacks hold against civil peace and coexistence of the citizens of Iraq.

Furthermore, Al-Karbalai strongly condemned the attacks, holding the government’s security forces responsible for the recurrence of the assaults,also asking not to allow militants to exist and work within the governmental frame, because it only threatens citizens’ security, irrespective to their sect or social standing.

On the other hand, the Iraqi government sent an armed battalion composed of army and police forces to Basra, the southern oil city, in order to disarm citizens, amid a security turmoil after a strong dispute arose among competing Shiite clans.

Reuters reported Jabar al-Saadi, head of the security committee at the Basra provincial council, saying: “This security operation targets areas north of Basra that have an abundance of tribal clashes and will also include neighborhoods inside Basra city in the future”.

Former Minister of Provincial Affairs in the Iraqi Interim Government, Judge Wael Abdul Latif, stated to Asharq Al-Awsat that those responsible for the chaos and security breach have “taken advantage of the Popular Mobilization Forces and started taking action in the name of the Forces, thus they have started acquiring weapons to coerce people”.

“There range of activity has broadened lately, to include other provinces”, judge Latif added.