Increased activities of al-Salafeyah groups against occupation in Iraq
Iraq-USA, Politics, 8/2/2003

The influential Shiite clergy in Iraq Muqtada al-Sader called during his Friday sermon from al-Koufa mosque for trying the American soldiers who are responsible for humiliating the Iraqis, according to the Sharia (Islamic law).

Al-Sader said before thousands of worshippers "should we accept Iraq to be humiliated and its head to be deposed," denouncing the aggression carried out by the occupation forces against the Shrine of Imam al-Hussein in Karbalaa as "part of its aggression against the world and against Iraq."

A week earlier, an American patrol threw smoke bombs at a group of persons near the Shrine of Imam al-Hussein while carrying out an inspection operation in the area. One of the bombs hit the shrine and this resulted in demonstrations of protest during which two Iraqis were killed by US soldiers.

Al-Sader rejected the courts formed by the occupation forces, calling for forming "legal courts that implement legal sentence."

Al-Sader also renewed his rejection of the local governing council in al-Najaf because "it is America's representative," calling for "a people's council led by the ( Shiite ) religious figures."

On the other hand, activities of Salafeyah Wahabbi groups which strongly oppose the US have been greatly increased in Iraq, making use of the fears of the Sunnis of the Shiite power expansion which surfaced following the collapse of the Saddam Hussein's regime.

Imam of one of al-Falouja's mosques, Sheikh Ahmad Abbas al-Esawi, said that the "Salafeyah faction is the side which fight the occupation forces but in an unorganized way because the scholars have not yet announced Jihad against the Americans." Al-Salafeyah, however, is not a new faction in Iraq, it existed under the rule of Saddam Hussein, according to Mohsin Abdul Farhan who teaches Sharia in Baghdad. He explained that the Iraqi regime used to keep a blind eye on these Salafeyah factions even during the invasion of Kuwait in 1990.

Sheikh Farahan added "Let us give the occupation the opportunity to fulfil their promises to rebuilding, but they have later to leave." He said that every Iraqi "Mujahid" who is killed in confrontation with the American forces is considered "a martyr." Al- Saadi said that the Islam partisans group which takes Kurdistan as a headquarters is still in its bases in northern Iraq and had concluded an agreement with the Kurdish parties to stop any military activity by it. He continued "but some of its members were able to reach areas in central Iraq and joined Salafeyah and Wahabi groups."

Previous Stories:
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  Bush renews sanctions on Iraq   (8/1/2003)
  Iraqi foreign ministry reopened, Bremer: elections next year possible   (8/1/2003)

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