 Iraq's marginalized Sunnis yesterday formed a nationwide alliance of tribal, political and religious groups and demanded the resignation of Interior Minister Bayan Jabr. The group's demand threatened to further fuel sectarian tensions following the recent killing of several Sunni clerics that they have blamed on Shiite-dominated security forces.
| That's what it's supposed to do, isn't it? |
A total of 10 clerics, both Sunni and Shiite, have been killed by gunmen in the past two weeks and Sunni mosques have been observing a lockout in protest since Friday.
| Oh! They can't do that! The crops won't grow! The rain won't come! The sun won't shine! |
"No one has the right to call for the resignation of a minister, only Parliament can do that. Those who didn't get one vote have no right to ask," Interior Minister Jabr said, referring to the fact that many Sunnis stayed away from Jan. 30 elections either in protest or fear of attacks. A Shiite, Jabr added that "we did not practice killing against anyone."
| That's the way you say "piss off" in Iraqi Arabic... |
The newly created Sunni alliance, which has not adopted a name, will open its first office in Baghdad with branches later in other cities. "The decisions taken by this body will be shared by all Sunni parties and movements, Islamists, independents, merchants, military officers, heads of tribes and workers," said Adnan Al-Duleimi, the head of the Sunni Endowment. The charitable organization was one of three main Sunni groups to back the formation of the new organization. The others were the influential Association of Muslim Scholars and the Iraqi Islamic Party.
| So that'd be the Iraqi Islamic Party, their war council, and their money men. Gotcha. |
"We decided to establish this Sunni political and religious organization to speak on behalf the Arab Sunnis. We all have to work for the sake of Iraq to get this country out of this hard situation," said Sheikh Lawrence Abid Ibrahim Al-Hardan, 47, who is from restive Anbar province west of Baghdad. Sunnis said they hope the organization will give them more of a say in Shiite-dominated Iraq and help bring the minority together ahead of new elections in December. "We made a big mistake when we didn't take part in the elections and that was because we didn't have a unified and clear religious and political organization," said Sheikh Salim Assad Abdullah Al-Dhahir, 55.
| No. It was because you thought you could derail them. |
"The loss of the elections was the main motive behind this project, which will bring the Sunnis together and enable them to take part in the political process and the next election."
| Yeah. Maybe you'll have better luck next time. |
"We condemn raids and detention done under the cover of the law against imams and mosques. We demand an independent committee be formed to verify if detainees were killed or tortured and demand the resignation of the interior minister," the Sunnis said in a statement announcing the formation of their organization. The unprecedented gathering took place as thousands of Sunni Muslims across Baghdad were observing a three-day prayer strike which kicked off on Friday evening. Muezzins called for prayer as usual yesterday but urged the faithful to stay at home, in a movement of protest against the recent murder of Sunnis. The assassinations were part of a cycle of tit-for-tat sectarian killings, which culminated on May 15 with the discovery of at least 46 mutilated bodies in and around Baghdad.
| They were okay while it was only tats, but now that there's tits in the equation they don't like it. Hitting a little too close to home, are they? |
Eight members of an elite Interior Ministry force known as the Wolf Brigade, which at least one Sunni leader has implicated in sectarian killings, died in a pre-dawn ambush on their 20-vehicle convoy in downtown Beiji, 250 km north of Baghdad, police 1st Lt. Nadar Adil said. Another four police officers were killed by a roadside bomb in the predominantly Sunni city of Samarra, 95 km north of Baghdad, police Lt. Qassim Mohammed said. |