Fallujah Imam: Be Vigilant in Face of US Conspiracies

Sadrist al-Nu`mani: Violence in Iraq Orchestrated by US

Shiites Condemn HAMAS

The USG Open Source Center provides summaries of the major sermons in Iraq's big mosques, Sunni and Shiite, last Friday. The difference in the concerns of Sunni and Shiite preachers is striking and a cause for concern. Mind you, this is what is on Iraqi television channels, it is not just in the mosques. Do yourself a favor and read the entire report. Some of the good stuff is toward the end.

' Iraqi Television: Roundup of Friday Sermons 9 Jun
Iraq -- OSC Report
Monday, June 12, 2006 T13:39:27Z

At 0845 GMT Baghdad Satellite Channel in Arabic, reportedly sponsored by the Iraqi Islamic Party, carries a live relay of the Friday sermon from the (Sunni) Dhi al-Nurayn Mosque [Sunni Arab]. Shaykh Jamal Abd-al-Rahman begins his sermon by recounting the "sad events" of the previous week, in which Sunnis in Basra were "murdered and displaced." Furthermore, Shaykh Abd-al-Rahman produces an ultimatum letter that was given to a resident of Al-Shu'lah city threatening to kill him if he fails to evacuate. Al-Rahman reads out the contents of the letter, while leaving out the name of the religious authority who appeared to sanction it, in order to avoid any accusations of stoking tension among Muslims. Al-Rahman calls on (Sunni) Muslims to remain resilient in the face of the "oppressors" who seek to weaken them.

Within its 1700 GMT newscast, Baghdad Al-Furat in Arabic, a television station affiliated with the [Shiite] Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI), reports that Friday preachers expressed hopes for a better state of security across Iraq, after the "killing of the criminal Abu Mus'ab al-Zarqawi." Preachers are also cited as urging the government to join efforts to uproot terrorism and fulfill all commitments made to the Iraqi people. The channel cites Al-Sayid Muhammad al-Haydari, imam and preacher of the (Shiite) Al-Khillani Mosque as denouncing HAMAS's recent statements, in which it described Al-Zaraqawi as the "nation's martyr," while calling on the Palestinian movement to reconsider its hurtful stand toward the Iraqi people. The channel cites Al-Haydari as expressing hope that HAMAS's unfavorable stand toward the killing of Al-Zarqawi is only a matter of misjudgment that requires rectifying, asserting that Al-Zarqawi is a " criminal and a murderer, who overlooked the situation in Palestine and did not choose to fight the Zionists there."

Additionally, the channel reports that the sermon of Shaykh Jalal al-Din-al-Saghir, imam and preacher of the (Shiite) Buratha Mosque, touched upon the "criminal mentality" of Al-Zarqawi, which he nurtured throughout his terrorist war on the Iraqi people in all their diversity. Shaykh Al-Saghir says: "There are certain parties, which are actively engaged in protecting this criminal creature, who used to take pride along with his group in being the Shaykh (master) of slaughterers." He goes on to say that his cruelty was witnessed all over the world "when he slit the throats of American hostages, while taking pride in his brutality." Al-Saghir adds that "if Al-Zarqawi had been a Muslim, he would have followed Islam's teaching on dealing with prisoners of war."

Moreover, the channel cites Shaykh Mahmud Jarad al-Isawi, imam and preacher of the (Sunni) Al-Kilani Mosque, as expressing optimism toward the appointment of the interior and defense ministers, while calling on the government to meet its obligations toward the Iraqi people. Al-Isawi says:" Turn the slogans that you used in your electoral campaigns into a tangible reality."

Additionally, the channel cites Al-Sayid Sadr-al-Din al-Qubbanji, imam and preacher of [the Shiite] Al-Husayniyah Al-Fatimiyah Mosque in Al-Najaf, as underlining the need to move the political process forward, as a most efficient means to uproot terrorism.

Furthermore, Al-Furat reports that Friday preachers in Al-Anbar Governorate called on Iraqis to work toward restoring security in the cities of Al-Anbar Governorate, which have undergone a long period of unrest and instability.

The channel cites Shaykh Ahmad al-Nasir, imam and preacher of Al-Furqan Mosque in Al-Fallujah, as calling on worshippers to work toward restoring security and calm to the city and to thwart all attempts to ignite sedition. The channel comments that Friday preachers in Al-Anbar did not mention the killing of Al-Zarqawi in their sermons, attributing that to the preacher's caution not to trigger retaliatory action by Al-Zarqawi's followers.

At 1855 GMT, Al-Furat carries a program titled "Excerpts from Friday Sermons." Al-Sayid Sadr-al-Din al-Qubbanji, imam and preacher of Al-Husayniyah Al-Fatimiyah Mosque, is cited as saying that "Al-Zarqawi is a mere parasite living off the filth of Ba'thists. If we do not eliminate the Ba'thists and cleanse Iraq from their filth, we will not benefit from the killing of Al-Zarqawi or others."

Within its 1600 GMT newscast, Baghdad Al-Iraqiyah Television in Arabic -- government-sponsored television station, run by Iraqi Media Network -- reports the Friday preachers expressed hopes for an improved state of security in Iraq following the death of Al-Zarqawi, "who had launched an all out war on Iraq." Friday preachers also expressed "relief over the good spirit that had prevailed during the proceedings of the parliament's session."

The channel cites Al-Sayid Hazim al-A'raji, imam and preacher of [Shiite] Al-Rawdhah al-Kazimiyah Mosque, as saying that Al-Zarqawi's death is a great joy for all Iraqis, while warning his successors of a similar fate.

Like Al-Furat, the channel cites Shaykh Mahmud Jarad al-Isawi, imam and preacher of the (Sunni) Al-Kilani Mosque, as expressing optimism toward the appointment of ministers to the security portfolios, while urging the government to adhere to its commitments and provide Iraqis with security and stability.

Moreover, Shaykh Al-Isawi calls on security agencies and the Ministry of Education to carry out their duties toward the Iraqi people by either deploying forces to protect schools and universities, or postponing the scholastic year until security is restored.

He also called for putting an end to all operations that target scientist, doctors, and journalists, while questioning the purpose of their assassination.

Within its 1530 GMT newscast Baghdad Al-Diyar television in Arabic -- independent, private news and entertainment channel, run by Faysal al-Yasiri, Iraqi media figure -- reports that Al-Sayid Muhammad al-Haydari, imam and preacher of the (Shiite) Al-Khillani Mosque called on all Iraqis to join efforts to restore security, following the killing of Al-Zarqawi. The channel cites Al-Haydari as denouncing statements made by "some Palestinians who regarded Al-Zarqawi's death as a great loss."

Moreover, the channel cites Shaykh Mahmud Jarad al-Isawi, imam and preacher of the (Sunni) Al-Kilani Mosque, as likening the US's presence in Iraq to the presence of a dead animal in a well, "spoiling" its water content. Al-Isawi says: "A decaying rotten animal has entered our country. There is no solution to the problem we are suffering from without the departure of this animal. The occupation forces spoiled everything when they entered our country, including our ethics and morals, until we have reached our present unenviable state."

Within its 1800 GMT newscast, Al-Baghdadiyah Television, a Cairo-based Iraqi channel known for its opposition to the "US occupation" in Iraq, reports that Friday preachers called for unity and solidarity among the Iraqi people, while emphasizing the need to cast off sectarianism and end the cycle of violence.

The channel cites Al-Sayid Muhammad al-Haydari, imam and preacher of the (Shiite) Al-Khillani Mosque as saying that: "The death of this criminal (Al-Zarqawi) will undoubtedly weaken them, because he was their leader, but it does not warrant their end."

Within its 1800 GMT newscast, Baghdad Al-Sharqiyah Television in Arabic -- Independent, private news and entertainment channel focusing on Iraq, run by Sa'd al-Bazzaz, publisher of the Arabic-language daily Al-Zaman, reports that Friday preachers expressed hopes for a better state of security in Iraq following the killing of Al-Zarqawi. The channel adds that after performing Friday prayers, hundreds of worshippers in Al-Najaf took to the streets in celebration of Al-Zarqawi's death, while raising pictures of religious authorities, namely Grand Ayatollah Al-Sistani.

The channel cites Al-Sayid Sadr-al-Din al-Qubbanji, imam and preacher of Al-Husayniyah Al-Fatimiyah Mosque in Al-Najaf and member of the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI), as saying that Al-Zarqawi constitutes only one face of terrorism, while holding the Ba'th Party accountable for Al-Qa'ida's activities in Iraq. Al-Qubbanji asserts that had Al-Qaid'a not found a strong supporter in Al-Ba'th Party it would not have been able to enroot itself in Iraq.

Moreover, the channel cites the representative of Grand Ayatollah Al-Sistani, Shaykh Abd-al-Mahdi al-Karbala'i, imam and preacher of Al-Husayn Mosque in Karbala, as saying that eliminating "terrorist elements" is a great step toward ending the atrocities committed against the Iraqi people. Shaykh Al-Kabala'i also stresses the need to restore sovereignty to Iraq and put an end to foreign interference in Iraqi affairs.

Additionally, the channel cites Hazim al-A'raji, representative of clergyman Muqtada al-Sadr in the city of Al-Kazimiyah, as congratulating the Iraqi people on the death of Al Al-Zarqawi, while urging the worshippers to stand firm against the Takfiri [excommunication] ideology.

Furthermore, Al-Sharqiyah reports that Shaykh Ali al-Nu'mani, affiliated with the Al-Sadr movement, held the US forces responsible for the deteriorating state of security in Iraq and organized killings. Al-Nu'mani maintains that violence in Iraq is carefully orchestrated by the US forces to disrupt the work of the Iraqi government and parliament.

Moreover, the channel cites Friday preachers in Al-Anbar Governorate as calling on Iraqis to work toward restoring calm in governorate cities, "which have been witnessing volatile tension since the US invasion of Iraq three years ago."

Additionally, Al-Sharqiyah reports that Shaykh Ahmad al-Nasir, imam and preacher of [the Sunni] Al-Furqan Mosque in Al-Fallujah called on worshippers to be vigilant in the face of US conspiracies to divide the Iraqi people.'

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