Sayyid Ammar al-Hakim Calls Political Powers for a Meeting to Assure Citizens and Issue a Statement as a Code of Honor Against Terrorism and Sectarianism
In a speech delivered during the ceremony of the birth of Imam Ali (AS) in his Eminence's office in Baghdad, Wednesday, May 23, 2013, Sayyid Ammar al-Hakim, Head of the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq, called political powers for a symbolic meeting that assures citizens and allows them to issue the message of unity against terrorism and sectarianism, as well as to show that no matter how different their opinions are, they will always bow to the pure innocent blood and simplify their disputes before the Iraqi sacrifice. He also called Shia, Sunnis, and brothers in Kurdistan for a meeting that unites the rhetoric against terrorism, assuring that the statement to be issued from the meeting will be a code of honor against terrorism and sectarianism and everyone who lives on bloodshed of Iraqis. He addressed the terrorists and their supporters by sayinf "you will not oppress the unity of our people and we will take victory because the Iraqi people trust in God and are self-confident,” stressing the need to take action against the fierce attack the Iraqi people face, first on field where the government and security forces should fulfill their obligations and chase the terrorist cells, and second through political measures consisting of uniting the rhetoric against terrorism no matter how severe political disputes are. He considered the current events not a security breach, rather a planned attack not aiming to topple the government or to exert pressure on a specific component or sect, but to destroy the country and the state.
The Dangers Surrounding Iraq Need More than just Excoriation, and Everybody Has Responsibilities to Assume
His Eminence described the last bombings as fierce attack of a new kind against citizens, wondering whether a decision was taken by other countries to divide Iraq, and whether a foreign decision was taken to spur sectarian division. He considered such fierce attack as a trap set for Iraqis by hitting mosques and Hussainias. According to his Eminence, whatever the decisions taken, the Iraqis decided to stay united regardless their differences. He added that the dangers surrounding Iraq need more than just excoriation, urging all decision makers who are defending Iraq's unity to adopt a unified position and stand up to the fierce attack, since "the killing of travelers and soldiers on the international borders and in Anbar and the targeting of Mandeans clearly indicate that grounds are being prepared for a sectarian war", he explained. His Eminence maintained that attacking the groupings of citizens in different areas means that the enemies of Iraq have the logistic power to attack any place, and that the frequent attacks against innocent people urge us to warn that the Iraqi blood is intensively shed and the worst is to come if this fierce attack is not opposed by everybody. Moreover, he called for seizing such threat, revealing that the security measures taken by the government through the change made to the security leaders and plans are promising, a responsibility that must be assumed by the government to God, the people and the history. He also remarked that all parties agree on not getting involved in any bloodshed in spite of their differences, thus calling on the state institutions, i.e. the council of ministers and the parliament, to assume their responsibilities by drawing up a plan to face the challenges.
Ali Is an Example not only Followed by Muslims and the Followers of the Household (AS), but also by All Mankind
On the occasion of the birthday of Imam Ali (AS), his Eminence depicted Imam Ali (AS) as legend, a perfect man whose example has been followed not only by Muslims, but also by all mankind. According to him, Ali (AS) was born in the Holy Kaaba and was killed while praying, and between birth and martyrdom, his life was full of worship and obedience to Allah. "The one who murdered Ali (AS) while performing his prayers is reborn in those who are massacring peoples in mosques and Hussainias, and during the Friday prayer", he said. "Ali (AS) is present through his followers and his murderer is also present through his followers". He continued by saying that in Imam Ali's teachings, the end does not justify the means, a balance that allow his believers to distinguish good from evil and to recognize the one who had an ideal relationship with the Prophet (PBUH) in conveying and serving his message. In addition, he stated that Ali (AS) faced many movements: the opportunists who care only about their own interests and are found at all times and in all places, the hypocrites, those with mean and malicious intentions, the Hadith followers who have a superficial knowledge of Islam and look at Islam from a narrow-minded perspective, the movement of rejection and Kharijites, and the Alawi movement, that of values, principles, reasoning and logic. "Ali (AS) had three priorities: First, to safeguard Islam as a vision, an ideology, an institution and a nation. Second, to treat Muslims equally regarding the citizenship rights. Third, to establish political freedoms and others' opinions and to tolerate them even if they were wrong as long as arms are not taken up to intimidate people", he concluded.
