Calling for Sticking to the Constitution as a Reference to Resolve Differences, Sayyid Ammar al-Hakim Emphasizes the Importance of Deepening the National Reconciliation Speech
Sayyid Ammar al-Hakim, head of the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq, stressed the need to stick to the Iraqi constitution, under the title of the political and social contract, and take it as a reference to resolve differences, emphasizing the condemnation of terrorism, violence and extremism in all its forms and manifestations, and facing terrorist crimes, particularly ISIL terrorism. His Eminence has urged the Iraqi, regional and international legislative powers to make legislations that criminalize offending religious symbols and beliefs, calling on the executive and judicial authorities in Iraq and the whole world to stand firm against the practices which impair or belittle religions and denominations and incite hatred. He stressed again the need to ensure personal and collective freedoms for adherents of religions without differentiating between a religion and another, or humiliating in any way the religious symbols and holy constants of all denominations and religions under the pretext of democracy and freedom of expression.
Al-Hakim appealed for an open dialogue between religious leaders and adherents of religions to ensure access to a common coexistent and peaceful speech, avoid inflaming religious, sectarian, or national discord among citizens of one nation and reach the desired solutions during discords and crises through direct dialogue and meetings and through resorting to legal and constitutional means.
This came during the World Interfaith Harmony Week between religions, held in His Eminence's office in Baghdad, on Saturday, January 31st, 2015, in the presence of the President Fuad Maasum, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, Parliament Speaker Salim al-Jabbouri, many ministers and political and religious leaders of different religions, denominations and Iraqi components, as well as representatives of the international organization in Iraq, and a large number of ambassadors in Iraq.
Weapons Bust Be only Controlled by State and the National Guard Law Must be Enacted Promptly
His Eminence also called to foster the spirit of tolerance, harmony and peace, to deepen the discourse of good citizenship and peaceful coexistence as an approach and a presence, and to activate the role of peace-seeking institutions that adopt the open dialogical and human discourse. he appealed the media to play a positive role in purifying the atmosphere and spreading tolerance, stressing the need to preserve demographic diversity between the followers and adherents of religions and denominations and the Iraqi components, and to prevent changing the areas where they live, stating that weapons must be only controlled by the State as it is the sponsor and responsible for the homeland and citizen security, stressing the need to speed up the enactment of the National Guard Act, which provides legal cover for the role of popular forces in facing terrorism.
The Resolution of Crises and Problems Must Made by Iraqis
The Resolution of Crises and Problems Must Made by Iraqis
Sayyid Ammar al-Hakim said the biggest danger Iraq faces today is the emergence of the takfiri and hostile calls for annulling the others through murdering, marginalization, exclusion and division, stressing the need for the State, the religious references, the political leaders and the civil institutions to take a strict attitude against the attempts of banishing the others, accusing them of treason, and clearing them from the Iraq’s map. He added that the resolution of crises and problems in Iraqi must be made by Iraqis, and that any solution conjured up by non-Iraqis will only lead to more complications and oppositions between the Iraqi citizens, emphasizing the importance of holding a serious, objective and bold dialogue that converges on the common and mutual interests, promoting unity and agreement, privileging the serious, effective dialogue to contain the differences and taking decisions and drawing up policies that lead Iraq towards harmony and peace, calling on everyone to take a strict, clear and express standing against terrorism and sectarian calls that aim at tearing
apart Iraq and all the segments of the Iraqi people.
apart Iraq and all the segments of the Iraqi people.
Attacking the Sacred Beliefs Creates Huge Chaos within the Communities
His Eminence also called on everyone to assume their responsibility by countering the destructive, pervert and extremist ideas that attack the sacred beliefs and religious symbols, condemning the publication by some western newspapers and media of the offensive drawings of the Prophet (PBUH). In his opinion, such act creates a collective grudge away from justice, and lacks the minimum elements of civilization, and is based on hostility and bigotry. Here he explained that attacking the sacred beliefs will create huge chaos within the communities that risk compromising the calls by the prophets for love and peace, as well as the achievements of the western civilization and the principles and values of the oriental one, and that the spread of the tolerance culture is the strongest weapon against extremism and the ultimate means to spread the values of love and harmony within the communities.
Iraq Is the Place from where the Prophets Set Out and where Imam Mahdi (May Allah Hasten his Coming) Will Settle
Moreover, Sayyid Ammar al-Hakim stated that Iraq is one of the biggest religious hubs in the world. It is the place from where the prophets and reformists set out and disseminated their message and teachings since Adam (AS). He said Iraq was the land of the prophet Noah (AS) and the Flood; and it is in Iraq where fire was coolness and safety upon Abraham; it is in Iraq where the Talmud of Babylon was written and Islam spread out. Also in Iraq, according to his Eminence, the Prince of the Believers, Ali (AS) had his capital and Imam Hussein was martyred to confront injustice and tyranny and spread the spirit of tolerance. In Iraq, he added, the Islamic schools of theology like Mu’tazila, Ash’arism and Imamah and others were developed, and it is in Iraq that the greatest reformist Imam Mahdi (AS) whose advent is expected by all the followers of the divine religions from all sects. Finally, he underlined the need for Iraqis to be role models of harmony and to be the first to promote harmony between the divine religions and different ethnicities.
