Shite Iraqis Condemn Iran For Violence

[Annie]

I think this is another of those 'turning points', as was the rebuilding of the Church and plea that Christians return back to Iraq.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/21/AR2007112102190.html

Shiites in S. Iraq Rebuke Tehran
Petition Calls for U.N. Probe Into Iran's Influence, Sheiks Say

By Amit R. Paley and Sudarsan Raghavan
Washington Post Foreign Service
Thursday, November 22, 2007; A25

BAGHDAD, Nov. 21 -- More than 300,000 Shiite Muslims from southern Iraq have signed a petition condemning Iran for fomenting violence in Iraq, according to a group of sheiks leading the campaign.

"The Iranians, in fact, have taken over all of south Iraq," said a senior tribal leader from the south who spoke on condition of anonymity because he feared for his life. "Their influence is everywhere."

The unusually organized Iraqi rebuke illustrates the divisions that Iran has provoked among Iraq's majority Shiites. The prime minister and major political blocs are closely tied to Iran, but the petition organizers said many citizens are fiercely opposed to Iranian meddling in Iraqi affairs.

...

 

[maineman]

I wonder if Jafaari's name or Sadr's name or Sistani's name or Hakim's name are on that petition?

 

[Annie]

I wonder if Jafaari's name or Sadr's name or Sistani's name or Hakim's name are on that petition?

I believe Sistani's is. I saw something from BBC last evening.

 

[maineman]

I believe Sistani's is. I saw something from BBC last evening.

that would be huge, no doubt.

 

[Annie]

that would be huge, no doubt.

I've looked a bit, still not finding what I saw last night, but CNN has this:

http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/11/23/iraq.iran/

j...

The groups demand the United Nations "dispatch a delegation to investigate the four years [of] crimes in the southern provinces by the Iranian regime and its proxies," according to the Independent National Tribal Organization in Southern Iraq.

The petition has the support of 14 clergy members and 600 sheiks as well as the signatures of 25,000 women, the release said.

"The most painful stab on the back of the Shiites in Iraq by the Iranian regime has been its shameful abuse of Shiite religion to achieve its ominous ends," the petition said.

The People's Mujahedeen Organization of Iran -- or Mujahedeen-e Khalq -- which seeks to overthrow the Islamic regime in Iran, also backs the petition.

The organization has been labeled a terrorist group by the United States, Iraq and Iran -- all for different reasons -- but it continues to operate in Iraq under the U.S. military's protection. The United States considers the group a source of valuable intelligence on Iran.

Iran has blamed the group for supporting Shiite insurgents, but the organization has said "these allegations are only to cover up the crimes of the Iranian regime and its mercenaries in Iraq," according to the Shiite group's statement.

Another Iran-Iraq tiff emerged this week when Iraqi spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh announced upcoming talks that he said will "help to establish security and stability in Iraq and to dispel the tensions in the region."

According to Iran's Press TV, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini expressed concern about some of al-Dabbagh's remarks.

"Al-Dabbagh earlier said that as Iran had cut its support for insurgents in Iraq, Tehran and Washington should take advantage of the situation to hold a new round of talks," the report said. "Hosseini vehemently dismissed the accusations, calling on the Iraqi government not to be influenced by the [psychological war] waged by the U.S."

Al-Dabbagh's office then expressed "surprise and regret" at Hosseini's comments.

...

 

[DeadCanDance]

to the well informed, this comes as no suprise.

The iraqi shia have been involved in intra-shia power struggles for years. There's literally a civil war going on between rival shia groups in southern iraq.

To a large extent between the Badr Corps and the Mahdi army. I'm sure the Badr Corps and their backers in the Malaki government would love to see Iranian influence and aid to their shia rivals in the Mahdi Army reduced or eliminated.

 

[Annie]

that would be huge, no doubt.

Found something, no Western reporting though:

http://www.kuna.net.kw/NewsAgenciesPublicSite/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=1861019&Language=en

Sistani tells Shiites to protect Sunni brothers
Religion 11/28/2007 12:16:00 AM

BAGHDAD, Nov 27 (KUNA) -- Leading Shiite cleric in Iraq Ali Sistani Tuesday banned the killing of Iraqis, particularly the Sunnis, and urged the Shiites to protect their brother Sunnis.
Sistani bans the Iraqi blood in general the blood of Sunnis in particular. His announcement came during a meeting with a delegation from Sunni clerics from southern and northern Iraq.
The clerics are visiting Najaf to participate in the first national conference for Ulemaa of Shiites and Sunnis.
Sistani called on the Shiites to protect their Sunni brothers, according to Sheikh Khaled Al-Mulla, head of the authority of Ulemaa of Southern Iraq, noting that the Fatwa of Sistani would have positive impacts nationwide.
"I am a servant of all Iraqis, there is no difference between a Sunni, a Shitte or a Kurd or a Christian," Al-Mulla quoted Sistani as saying during the meeting.
Sistani warned the Sunni clerics from the plans of the enemies to plant seeds of discord among the Iraqis.
The visiting delegation voiced relief for the meeting and said they backed Sistani's stance. (end) mhg.bs KUNA 280016 Nov 07NNNN