WORSHIPPERS AT FIRST FREE FRIDAY PRAYERS TOLD COALITION GO HOME
By an IPS Correspondent
BAGHDAD 18 Apr. (IPS) Thousands of Iraqi Muslims of Shi’a and Sunni branches of Islam took part at the first "free" Friday prayers in the Capital’s main mosque, where the Friday Preacher called on the Coalition to end what he described as the "occupation" of Iraq and leave the destiny of the Iraqis to the people of the country.
Led by Sheykh Ahmad al-Qubeisi, a Shi’a cleric, worshippers,
carrying banners reading "No Occupation" or "Unity", flocked
at the central Abu Hanifa Mosque, chanting anti-American slogans and
urging the Coalition forces to leave Iraq.
They also called for an Islamic-Koranic state to replace that of Saddam Hoseyn, toppled last week by the Americans.
"It is the first unity rally held freely by Sunni and Shiite Muslim brothers", one participant at the ceremony told Iran Press Service, refusing however to which of the Shi’a or Sunni organisations he belonged.
"No to America"; "No to Secular State. Yes to Islamic State"; "Leave our country, we want peace", other banners read.
In Qatar, General Vincent Brooks Deputy Commander of the Coalition forces said that now Saddam was gone, Iraqis had the right to demonstrate. "We want the governance of Iraq to be handed over to, passed over to the Iraqi people as quickly as we can", he added.
"Before Baghdad fall, other and most important things felled. The first being the United Nations and its Security Council, proving they are nothing but puppets at the hands of powers armed to rule over innocent peoples. The Arab League was the second to fall and its General Secretary, Amr Mousa must have realized the uselessness of the Organisation. The third that felled was the Organisation of Islamic Conference, which, despite its 57 members, proved that it has no power to defend its rights. Human rights organizations also felled, showing they are noting but puppets like other similar organizations. But most important of all, it was the United States that felled", Sheykh Qubeisi said to the chants of God is the Greatest.
Seasoned journalists covering the prayers said it reminded them of the start of the Islamic revolution. "I saw clearly the hands of the Iranians behind today’s prayers", one Iranian journalist told IPS on condition of anonymity.
According to the Iranian Students News Agency ISNA, which, quoting Arab televisions stations, put the number of the participants at the prayers at " a million people", the sheikh announced that following an agreement with senior religious authorities in Najaf and Karbala, the holiest of Shi’a cities, "any government formed to govern Iraq must be recognised by a joint committee made of Shi’a and Sunni authorities.
"If not, we shall fight it the same way as Emam Khomeini (the late leader of Iranian Islamic revolution of 1997) fought the Shah of Iran, by organising demonstrations and strikes".
But he did not say when that committee had been formed or who seats there?
Organisers of Friday's demonstration called themselves the "Iraqi National United Movement" and said they represented both Shi'ites and the Sunnis who, under previous governments, ruled the nation, excluding the Shi’ites who are in majority in this nation of 26 million inhabitants.
"This is not the America we know. The America we know respects international law, respects the right of people", he thundered, adding that the "brave people" of Iraq had been "betrayed" by Saddam, who escaped, leaving the people facing the invaders".
According to sheikh Qubeisi, quoted by ISNA, the future Iraqi government must be "elected by the Iraqi people and not the United States, protect Iraq’s natural wealth in the service of Iraqi people and not the Americans and be a cure for Iraq’s wounds".
The ceremonies ended without any incident, except some strong protest to the American soldiers who were entering the mosque with their boots. ENDS BAGHDAD FRIDAY PRAYERS 18403