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March 12th, 2004
http://www.occupationwatch.org/article.php?id=3534
After the military machines had covered Iraq, the discourse of Iraqi politics
was split in two. This division was exacerbated by previous difficulties
including a thirty-year confiscation of political discourse that had deformed
and raped the Iraqis of rights to express themselves and their positions. The
duality that emerged with the present occupation was a new kind of intellectual
imperialism. It implied that if you are against the occupation you are a
Saddamist, and if you are against Saddam, you must be allied to the American
project. If you refuse this duality, you are viewed with suspicion.
Condoleeza Rice said, “We want to change the Iraqi mind.” For Rice, either
Iraqis learn our lesson as it is dictated from abroad or we are Saddamists. The
people who listen to Condoleeza Rice must believe that American war and hegemony
are a destiny that cannot be deterred; otherwise the nightmare of Saddamism will
follow.
But at the Al-Khalisia religious school in Iraq where the first Iraqi revolution
emerged in 1920 and where the Iraqi army was established, a group of people have
created an Iraqi project that goes beyond the duality of dictatorship or
occupation. The project calls for a national conference for an independent and
unified Iraq. This group representing many political tendencies, national and
Islamic (Sunni and Shiite) groups and parties, is united in its rejection of the
occupation and calls for an end to the occupation as the first condition for
creating a legal context in which to write an Iraqi constitution, conceptualize
a democratic Iraq, and build a society governed by justice, freedom, equality
and peace.
Two Axes
Building institutionalized political structures should involve a national
agreement to liberate Iraq by all legitimate means. First and foremost among
these means is organized political work. To accomplish this, many large meetings
have been held after months of preparation, dialogue, and research along two
axes.
The first axis involves supporting a coordinating committee to work on a
national conference. The second axis is connected to an initiative of Sheikh
Jawad Al-Khalisi, Dr. Harith Al-Dhari, general secretary of Islamic Scientists,
and Mr. Abdul Sittar Samarai, undersecretary of the Democratic Reform Party.
This initiative seeks to unite Shia and Sunnis in one unified Islamic body.
It is worth mentioning that the Islamic Scientists are both Kurds and Arabs, and
that the people working on the founding conference are from different Islamic,
nationalist, patriotic, leftist, Christian, Turkoman and Kurdish groups and
individuals. There are about fifty political groups represented, a regrouping of
a broad number of political tendencies that emerged after the fall of the
dictatorship.
The first consultative meeting was held in Al-Khalisia on Friday, December 19th
2003, and was called the Friday of Unity.
Sheikh Dhari stressed the idea that Iraq is wounded, its will has been stolen,
it has been raped and occupied. However, the most dangerous weakness that
afflicts it now is factionalism, which does not serve religion, the homeland, or
the nation. He called on everyone not to be driven by factional conflicts or
conspiracies, because “we know who is behind it, and we know what their goal
is.”
All the officials present gave speeches at this meeting. Sheikh Jawad thanked
them in the name of both Sunnis and Shia. A group of Sheikhs and political
leaders participated in the meeting, including: Qasim Al-Tai, from Hawza,
Ibrahim Obeidi from the Islamic Advisory Council, Mr. Abdul Karim Hani, an
ex-minister, Dr. Abdul Salaam Kubaisi from the Body of Islamic Scientists, Ali
Abodi and Yusouf Kinani from Hawza, Abu Jamal Shemmeri from the nationalist
groups, and Mr. Hadi Khammas from the liberal officers. They spoke and presented
their projects, all of which led to the same point: unity.
The meeting's final statement declared the need to work on establishing two
committees: a committee in the name of a body of Iraqi Scientists (Sunni, Shia,
Christian...), as well as a coordinating committee to follow up on preparation
for the first National Conference. The statement called upon all Iraqi political
parties, religious groups and women’s organizations to stick to the unity of
Iraq and fight all attempts at dismantling it.
Friday of Unity
The second meeting was held in Um Alqura mosque on Friday, January 2nd 2004, and
again called the Friday of Unity. It emphasized the idea of unity between Sunni
and Shiites and an atmosphere of wholesome dialogue in order to build the
founding National Conference under the slogan “Unity and justice are the basis
of the state to which we aspire.”
Sheikh Dhari called upon all those in attendance to work for the unity of Iraq
in the face of occupation and its collaborators, those who sold themselves in
slave markets. He emphasized the idea that Iraq, with its history, present and
future, deserves to be given everything in order to be liberated. Through
liberation, it will regain its honor.
Sheikh Jawad Al-Khalisi also emphasized the idea of unity of all religious
factions facing the occupation and criticized the criminal hands that attack
Shia and Sunni mosques in order to create division within Iraqi society. He also
condemned other attacks in Kirkuk meant to divide Arabs, Kurds and Turkoman. He
rejected any processes or solutions put on the table during the occupation
because he believes that no such solutions can be successful under occupation.
Sheikh Ahmed Al-Hasani Al-Baghdadi, the grandson of a leader of the first Iraqi
revolution of 1920, represented Najaf. He emphasized the historical role of
Najaf in liberating Iraq and reminded those in attendance that Shiite Imams
ordered people to work with the Sunnis on Islamic unity and the liberation of
Iraq. He also rebuffed the
idea that Shiites in Iraq submit to the occupation. He emphasized that Shiite
resistance in the South is fighting the occupation but that there is deliberate
media blackout on this issue. He called on everyone to work for the liberation
of Iraq.
Mr. Mohamed Ali Sibahi, head of the Iraqi National Salvation Front, rejected the
false choice imposed on Iraqis, that is to say, being either with the occupation
or with the last regime. He asked why Iraqis accept the factional duality,
confirming that in the history of Islamic culture, there is no such duality. He
called for an intellectual revolution that would erase anything that is against
the unity of the country.
Sheikh Ahmed Hassen Al-Taha, the Imam of Aadhamya mosque, emphasized the
necessity of removing all the differences and said, “It is enough for us to be
Iraqis defending our integrity on the way to liberating Iraq, and differences
enrich our life and our interactions with others and reflect the maturity of our
thought; they aren’t, as some see it, a matter of division.” He described
the image of Iraq, which, over time, became complete as different elements of
the country grew together. He reminded people that Iraqi Ministries were built
on the efficiency of performance and work, not on religious or factional
divisions. Iraqis live together without consideration for their national
origins.
Dr. Abdul Karim Hani, representative of the Arab Nationalist Movement, reminded
those present that the real motives for the invasion are well-known to the whole
world, and were based on factional and ethnic conflict. He thanked the Islamic
Scientists for making the occupiers fail in their attempts to win this game. He
warned that the occupying forces are still working on achieving their goals by
dismantling the unity of Iraqi society.
One of the ways to avoid these conflicts is not to engage in any processes to
design the Iraqi state before liberation from the occupation is achieved. Mr.
Hassan al-Sudani, representative of Mr. Al-Sistani, called on Iraqi politicians,
religious leaders and individuals not to remain passive observers and to do
whatever they could to contain any spark of factional conflict. He reminded them
that there was a religious decree that Muslims are prohibited from killing other
Muslims to create factional conflict.
Mr. Safa Al-Tamimi, an office director of Al-Sadr in Al Shaab City, called on
the audience to include all present-day political views operating in Iraq and to
reject the dialogue between some Iraqi politicians and the CPA. These dialogues,
he emphasized, will definitely fail because they represent neither the popular
will nor the interests and aspirations of the Iraqi people. It is very important
that the meetings (for unity) continue.
Dr. Talib Al-Baghdadi saluted the meeting as an embodiment of a nucleus for a
national coalition project and a refuge for different forces facing the
occupation.
Mr. Hashem Al-Mousawi, representative of the Democratic Reform Party, warned
that the occupation seeks to implant permanent military bases on Iraqi territory
for a long-time in the future. He demanded the immediate and complete end to the
occupation under the auspices of the Islamic Conference, the Arab League, and
the United Nations, according to the International Conventions and Laws. These
bodies and conventions stand as international legal references. He also called
upon Occupation forces to fulfill their responsibilities according to
International Law and to implement their commitments to Iraq. He emphasized that
the occupation wants to put in place a weak local authority in order to achieve
its illegitimate goals in Iraq and in the region. He said that any national
project in Iraq should be carried out separately from the occupation and after
it is over.
Mr. Hasim Makiya, representative of the Da’awa Party - Iraq Organization,
clarified that his party does not represent the Da’awa Party, which is a
member of the IGC. The Da'awa Party - Iraq Organization is not limited to Shia;
in fact it is connected to the first Islamic Da’awa, and his party cannot
support the occupation. Indeed, the party’s central goal now is the liberation
of Iraq and the representation of Iraqis of all different religions and
factions.
At the meeting, it was also emphasized that the Iraqi army rejected with pride
the fact that it is being trained and supervised by the occupiers of the
country. Some veterans joined Iraqi patriots in celebrating the Iraqi army day
on January 6th in a ceremony and demonstration held to honor the army.
Mr. Sattar Al-Samarai, member of the National Conference Coordination Committee,
said “We’re working hard to prepare for the national conference that will be
open to all political, religious, secular, nationalist and leftist trends, who
are going to implement the national project to liberate Iraq and put in place
the required procedures during the period of national salvation. To do this, we
have to prepare to write the constitution according to legitimate Iraqi will and
prepare the election of a legitimate Iraqi national government.”
Sheikh Ahmed Hassen Al-Taha, the Imam of Aadhamya mosque, emphasized the necessity of removing all the differences and said, “It is enough for us to be Iraqis defending our integrity on the way to liberating Iraq, and differences enrich our life and our interactions with others and reflect the maturity of our thought; they aren’t, as some see it, a matter of division.” He described the image of Iraq, which, over time, became complete as different elements of the country grew together. He reminded people that Iraqi Ministries were built on the efficiency of performance and work, not on religious or factional divisions. Iraqis live together without consideration for their national origins.
Dr. Abdul Karim Hani, representative of the Arab Nationalist Movement, reminded those present that the real motives for the invasion are well-known to the whole world, and were based on factional and ethnic conflict. He thanked the Islamic Scientists for making the occupiers fail in their attempts to win this game. He warned that the occupying forces are still working on achieving their goals by dismantling the unity of Iraqi society.
One of the ways to avoid these conflicts is not to engage in any processes to design the Iraqi state before liberation from the occupation is achieved. Mr. Hassan al-Sudani, representative of Mr. Al-Sistani, called on Iraqi politicians, religious leaders and individuals not to remain passive observers and to do whatever they could to contain any spark of factional conflict. He reminded them that there was a religious decree that Muslims are prohibited from killing other Muslims to create factional conflict.
Mr. Safa Al-Tamimi, an office director of Al-Sadr in Al Shaab City, called on the audience to include all present-day political views operating in Iraq and to reject the dialogue between some Iraqi politicians and the CPA. These dialogues, he emphasized, will definitely fail because they represent neither the popular will nor the interests and aspirations of the Iraqi people. It is very important that the meetings (for unity) continue.
Dr. Talib Al-Baghdadi saluted the meeting as an embodiment of a nucleus for a national coalition project and a refuge for different forces facing the occupation.
Mr. Hashem Al-Mousawi, representative of the Democratic Reform Party, warned that the occupation seeks to implant permanent military bases on Iraqi territory for a long-time in the future. He demanded the immediate and complete end to the occupation under the auspices of the Islamic Conference, the Arab League, and the United Nations, according to the International Conventions and Laws. These bodies and conventions stand as international legal references. He also called upon Occupation forces to fulfill their responsibilities according to International Law and to implement their commitments to Iraq. He emphasized that the occupation wants to put in place a weak local authority in order to achieve its illegitimate goals in Iraq and in the region. He said that any national project in Iraq should be carried out separately from the occupation and after it is over.
Mr. Hasim Makiya, representative of the Da’awa Party - Iraq Organization, clarified that his party does not represent the Da’awa Party, which is a member of the IGC. The Da'awa Party - Iraq Organization is not limited to Shia; in fact it is connected to the first Islamic Da’awa, and his party cannot support the occupation. Indeed, the party’s central goal now is the liberation of Iraq and the representation of Iraqis of all different religions and factions.
At the meeting, it was also emphasized that the Iraqi army rejected with pride the fact that it is being trained and supervised by the occupiers of the country. Some veterans joined Iraqi patriots in celebrating the Iraqi army day on January 6th in a ceremony and demonstration held to honor the army.
Mr. Sattar Al-Samarai, member of the National Conference Coordination Committee, said “We’re working hard to prepare for the national conference that will be open to all political, religious, secular, nationalist and leftist trends, who are going to implement the national project to liberate Iraq and put in place the required procedures during the period of national salvation. To do this, we have to prepare to write the constitution according to legitimate Iraqi will and prepare the election of a legitimate Iraqi national government.”