IUMS condemns assault on peaceful protesters in Anbar, Iraq, calls for relinquishing violence
All praise be to Allah and peace and blessings be upon Muhammad, His messenger, and upon his family, companions, and followers.
The International Union of Muslim Scholars, along with Arab, Muslim countries and the world, were shocked to see the attack by Iraqi government security forces on the protest encampment in Ramadi and Fallujah, in Al-Anbar governorate that left more than a dozen dead and dozens more wounded. The attack and subsequent closure of the camp is particularly horrifying since it came after a government agreement with the city inhabitants to end the crisis, what raises many questions about the objective behind the assault, and the entity that would find interest in stirring seditions among the people of the same country.
The assault only comes as a confirmation of views formerly expressed by the union that Iraq remains in need of enormous efforts by its sincere citizens who place the best interest of the people and the country above any other political or sectarian interest. In addition, Iraq needs much wisdom from some sides, particularly the government, while dealing with deteriorated conditions in order to spare the Iraqi people more violence and killing and to achieve peace, security and coexistence among all its people.
In the union, as we express our deep concern about the situation in Iraq in general and Anbar in particular, we declare and assert the following:
First: the union severely condemns the assault on peaceful citizens - without any justification – that killed many guiltless Iraqis whose only sin was the aspiration to their appropriated dignity and a sense of security they have not enjoyed for years now. Needless to say, the killing of one soul is equivalent to killing all people, as Allah states: {whoever kills a soul unless for a soul or for corruption [done] in the land - it is as if he had slain mankind entirely} [Quran 5:32].
Second: the union holds the Iraqi government entirely responsible for the attack and the subsequent bloodshed among Iraqis, calls for investigating the incident and putting the accountable officials to a fair trial.
Third: the union warns the Iraqi government about continuing these assaults on camping protesters, ignoring their legitimate demands, and calls for a speedy response to these demands without delay as acting otherwise would harm the interests of Iraq, as well as its stability and unity.
Fourth: we call all the constituents of the Iraqi nation to abandon violence and refrain from all actions that would spark sectarian strife and inter-killing among them. Instead, they should work toward uniting the national front through dialogue and peaceful methods, and prohibit the killing of Iraqis from whichever side.
Fifth: we send our condolences to the families of the martyrs, and express our solidarity with the people of Anbar.
We pray to Allah to protect Iraq and its people, to grant them safety and security, to be merciful to the deceased, to grant their families solace, and to grant the wounded a speedy recovery for He is All Hearing and is the Best Answerer to our prayers.
And from Allah is all aid!
28 Safar, 1435 H
31 December, 2013
Dr. Ali Al-Qaradaghi Dr. Yusuf Al-Qaradawi
IUMS Secretary General IUMS President