October 27, 2006

IRAQI RELIGIOUS LEADERS SIGN THE MAKKAH AL MUKARAMAH DECLARATION TO STOP THE MUSLIM BLOODSHED AND SECTARIAN KILLINGS. THE DECLARATION PRODUCED BY THE SCHOLARS CONTAINS A RULING WHICH CLEARLY FORBIDS SHIITES AND SUNNIS FROM KILLING EACH OTHERS. THE DECLARATION CALLS FOR PUTTING AN END TO ALL INJUSTICES, INCLUDING MOST PARTICULARLY BY ENSURING THE RELEASE OF ALL INNOCENT PRISONERS AND HOSTAGES, WHETHER MUSLIMS OR NON-MUSLIMS, AND THE RETURN OF THE DISPLACED TO THEIR ORIGINAL HOMES. THE ARAB AND MUSLIM WORLD WELCOMES THE MAKKAH DECLARATION. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz received at Al Safa palace in Makkah the General President for the Holy and Prophet's Mosques' affairs, Chairman of King Abdul Aziz Center of National Dialogue Sheikh Salih Al Hossein, and Chairman of the Shoura Council Dr. Saleh Bin Humaid. King Abdullah also received mail's former president Musa Trauri and his accompanying delegation. The King received Iraq's Vice President Tareq Al Hashemi and his accompanying delegation as well as a delegation of the participants in the Iraqi reconciliation conference. Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah received the delegates taking part in the Iraqi national reconciliation conference in Makkah and wished them every success in their efforts to bring about national unity. "I welcome you in your second country and wish you every success in your efforts as you are brothers in Islam and we don't want anybody to interfere in the affairs of the Islamic nation," the Saudi Press Agency quoted the king as telling the delegates. King Abdullah expressed his confidence in the ability of Iraqi delegates to reach a consensus on ending the bloodbath in the war-torn country. "You are an efficient and patriotic people and above all you have the Islamic faith," the king said. Then the guests had Iftar with the king. The audience and Iftar were attended by Prince Badr Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Commander of the National Guard; Prince Nawaf Ibn Abdul Aziz, Special Advisor to the king; Prince Abdul-Ilha Ibn Abdul Aziz; Prince Miqren Ibn Abdul Aziz, Chief of General Intelligence, other princes, ministers and a number of senior officials. Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister, of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General, received at Al Safa palace in Makkah Iraq's Vice President Dr. Tareq Al Hashmi and his accompanying delegation. During the meeting, they reviewed the latest developments in Iraq. The Crown Prince confirmed the kingdom's firm support for Iraq's independence, integrity, and national reconciliation. Also discussed were the bilateral relations between the two countries and ways of enhancing them. The audience was attended by senior protocol officials. Prince Naif Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Interior Minister, received Iraqi Vice-President Dr Tariq Al Hashemi and the accompanying delegation. They reviewed issues of mutual interest. Prince Naif Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Interior Minister, received the Secretary General of the Commission of the Iraqi Muslim Scholars Sheikh Harith Al-Dhari and the accompanying delegation. They exchanged views on the developments of the situation in Iraq. Speaking on the occasion, Prince Naif reiterated the keenness of Saudi Arabia on enhancing the pillars of security and stability in Iraq. The meeting was attended by Prince Meqrin Ibn Abdul Aziz, the President of the General Intelligence. Prominent Shiite and Sunni religious scholars from Iraq took the first major step in decades toward mutual recognition at a historic meeting in Makkah. In a joint declaration, signed at Al-Safa Palace overlooking the Holy Kaaba, the religious scholars called for a complete end to the sectarian killings in Iraq that have recently assumed horrific proportions. Meeting under the auspices of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) and the International Islamic Fiqh Academy, the Shiite and Sunni scholars called on Iraqis in unambiguous terms to stand united in protecting the independence, unity and territorial integrity of their country. "This is necessary," they said, "in order to put an end to the (foreign) occupation and restore and reinstate Iraq's Arab-Islamic role." The declaration produced by the scholars contains a ruling which clearly forbids Shiites and Sunnis from killing each other. Essentially a fatwa, the ruling is based on eight key points. The most important is: "The Muslim is he who professes his faith by proclaiming 'Lailaha Illallah Muhammad Rasulullah' (There is no god but Allah and Muhammad is His Prophet). By this statement, the Muslim embraces and accepts the five pillars of Islam and the central tenets of its faith, thus rendering his blood and property inviolable." "These fundamental principles," the declaration said, "apply equally to the Sunni and the Shiite without exception. The differences between the two schools of thought are merely differences of opinion and interpretation and not essential differences of faith." The declaration states that no follower of either school may expel or declare another an unbeliever or in any other way cast aspersions on the faith of a follower of a different school. The grounds for the ruling are based on a statement by Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him): "If ever one of you calls his brother: You infidel, one of them shall come out the infidel and bear the onus thereof." Prominent among the 28 signatories of the declaration are Sheikh Ahmad Abdul Ghafour Al-Samarai, Sheikh Jalaludeen Al-Saghir, Sheikh Dr. Salah Abdul Razaq, Sheikh Abdul Satar Abdul Jabbar Abbas, Sheikh Dr. Mahmoud Al-Samidai, Syed Muhammad Al-Haideri and Sheikh Dr. Syed Muhammad Bahar Al-Uloom. The signing was witnessed by Sheikh Muhammad Habib Ben El-Khoja, secretary-general of the International Islamic Fiqh Academy, Sheikh Muhammad Ali Al-Taskhiri, a member of the academy, and Dr. Muhammad Salim El-Awa, adviser to the OIC secretary-general. The declaration has received full approval and endorsement from key Shiite and Sunni leadership, most notably from Sheikh Muhammad Syed Tantawi, Grand Ayatollah Ali Al-Sistani, Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi, Adnan Al-Dulaimi and Sheikh Salah Al-Deen Kuftaro. Following is the declaration: In the Name of God, Most Compassionate, Most Merciful Praise and Glory be to Almighty God, and May His Peace and Blessings be Upon His Prophet Mohamed and all his Kin and Companions In view of the present situation in Iraq, where bloodshed is widespread, and where aggression on assets and property, perpetrated under the guise of Islam, is daily occurrence, and in response to the invitation of the Secretary-General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) and under the umbrella of the OIC International Islamic Fiqh Academy (IIFA), We the scholars of Iraq, from both the Sunnis and the Shiites, having met in Makkah Al-Mukarramah in Ramadan of the Lunar Hijra year of 1427H (2006) and deliberated on the situation in Iraq and the disastrous plight of the Iraqi people, issue and proclaim the following Declaration: I. The Muslim is he who professes his faith by bearing witness that there is no God but Allah and that Mohamed is His Prophet. These fundamental principles apply equally to the Sunnis and the Shiites without exception. The common grounds between the two schools of thought are many times more than areas of difference and their causes. Any difference between them are merely differences of opinion and interpretation and not essential differences of faith or on the substance of the Pillars of Islam. From the Islamic Shari'a viewpoint, no one follower of either schools may excommunicate, hereticate, or in any other way cast aspersions on the faith and fidelity of a follower of the other school, on the grounds that God's Prophet (PBUH) said: "If ever one of you calls his brother: You infidel, one of them shall come out the infidel and bear the onus thereof!". II. The blood, property, honor, and reputation of Muslims is sacrosanct on the grounds of the noble verses of the Holy Quran, in which Almighty God says: "And whoever deliberately and with premeditation kills a believer, his recompense is Hell to abide therein, and the Wrath and the Curse of God are upon him, and a great punishment is prepared for him"; and the Immaculate Tradition of the Prophet Mohamed (PBUH), which says: "Everything pertaining to the Muslim is sacrosanct, including his blood, property, honor, and reputation". Therefore, no Muslim, whether he or she is Shiite or Sunni, may be subject to murder or any harm, intimidation, terrorization, or aggression on his property; incitement thereto; or forcible displacement, deportation, or kidnapping. Moreover, no member of his family may be held hostage on grounds of religious or sectarian belonging. Whoever perpetrates such acts shall fall from the fold and grace of the whole Ummah, including all Muslim authorities, scholars, and all believers. III. All houses of worship are sacrosanct, including mosques and the non-Muslim houses of worship of all faiths and religions. Therefore, these places of worship may not be attacked, appropriated, or in any other way used as a haven to perpetrate acts in contravention of our Magnanimous Shari'a. Instead, they should remain entirely at the disposal of their owners who should regain total and unfettered access to them in application of the Muslim jurisprudential rule adopted by all Islamic schools that: "All religious endowments and Awqaf shall be subject to the terms and conditions established by their owners"that: "a condition stipulated by the Donor shall be treated just as a Shari'a rule"; and that: "That which is part of practice and custom shall be deemed as a contractual provision". IV. The crimes committed on sight on grounds of sectarian identity or belonging, such as those now being perpetrated in Iraq, fall within the ambit of "wickedness, and mischief on the earth", which was prohibited and proscribed by Almighty God when He said: "When he turns his back, His aim everywhere is to spread mischief through the earth and destroy crops and cattle. But God loveth not mischief." The espousal of a school of thought, whatever it may be, is not a justification for killing or aggression, even if some followers of that school commit a punishable act since: "A bearer of burdens cannot bear another's burdens". V. Any provocation of sensitivities or sectarian, ethnic, geographical, or linguistic strife should be shunned and averted. Similarly, any name-calling, abuse, or vilification and invectives uttered by any one party in attack on another should be avoided in view of the express prohibition by the Holy Quran, which labelled such conduct as "blasphemy": "Nor defame nor be sarcastic to each other, nor call each other by offensive nicknames: Ill-seeming is a name connoting wickedness used of one after he has believed: And those who do not desist are indeed wrong doers". VI. Certain things and principles should never be forfeited, including in particular the unity, cohesion, cooperation, and solidarity in piety and righteousness, which should all be preserved and protected against any attempt to tear them asunder, for Almighty God said: "The Believers are but a single Brotherhood" and He also said: "Truly! This Ummah of yours is a single brotherhood, and I am your Lord, therefore worship Me". Necessarily therefore, it is incumbent upon all Muslims to adopt caution and vigilance against all attempts to sow division among them, break their ranks, or incite sedition, strife, and hate to corrupt their divine spiritual bonds with each other. VII. Muslims, both Sunnis and the Shiites all in unison champion the cause of the persecuted and unite against the oppressor and the unjust, as they act in application of Almighty God's words: "Verily, God enjoins justice, righteousness and good deeds, charity and assistance to kith and kin and He forbids all shameful deeds, injustice, and oppression. He admonishes you, that you may take heed". Accordingly, our endeavors should seek to put an end to all injustices, including most particularly by ensuring the release of all innocent prisoners and hostages, whether Muslims or non-Muslims, and the return of the displaced to their original homes. VIII. The scholars remind the Iraqi Government of its duty to provide security, protection and means of decent livelihood to all categories and sections of the Iraqi people and to uphold justice among them, principally, by ensuring the release of innocent detainees, by bringing to speedy and fair trial, and executing the ruling against, those indicted of crime, while observing strictly the principle of equality among all citizens. IX. The Sunnite and Shiite scholars support all efforts aimed at achieving comprehensive national reconciliation in Iraq in accordance with the words of the Almighty God: "Reconciliation is best" and "Help ye one another in righteousness and piety". X. Muslims, whether Sunnite or Shiite, will thus stand united in protecting the independence, unity, and territorial integrity of Iraq; realizing and consecrating the free will of the Iraqi people, contributing to the military, economic, and political capacity-building of their country in order to put an end to occupation and restore and reinstate Iraq's Arab-Islamic and human cultural and civilizational role. The scholars who have signed this Declaration appeal to all Muslim scholars to support its provisions and urge the Muslims of Iraq to pledge adherence to it. They pray to Almighty God, on this sacred soil and blessed grounds, to protect and preserve the faith of all Muslims, ensure the safety of their homeland, and bring the Arab-Muslim country of Iraq out of its plight, end its trials and tribulations and reinstate Iraq as a fortress and pillar of the Muslim Ummah in the face of its enemies. Our final and eternal prayer is always that Praise and Glory be to Almighty God, the Lord of the Universe and all worlds therein. In his opening speech Prof. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu Secretary-General of the organization of the Islamic conference said: Today is one of God's blessed, historic days. It is a day when eminent, benevolent Muslim scholars have strived to reach an agreement to stem the bloodshed of people in Iraq, stop the killing of innocent Iraqis, and end the suffering of our Iraqi brethren. We offer our thanks and prayers to Almighty God, Praise and Glory be to Him, that He has made this auspicious meeting possible on this sacred soil and graced our mission with success. That is why, in the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), conscious of our responsibility toward God, the Muslim Ummah and history, we decided to deploy a determined effort to stem the tide of sedition in Iraq before it spirals out of control by initiating an act purely dedicated to Almighty God and motivated by the quest for His grace and blessing of our endeavors to seek the prosperity of Iraq and the Iraqi people and by the same token the prosperity of the whole Muslim world - for sedition is worse than killing - seeking to stem the bloodshed and to annihilate and uproot the causes of religious and sectarian confrontation. That we did by the grace of God, recalling the appeal made by our Prophet (May God's Peace and Blessings Be Upon Him) as he addressed the Ummah on the occasion of his farewell Pilgrimagenot far from this spotwhen he said: "O People! Shedding your blood and spoiling your property are proscribed and forbidden until you meet your Maker, just as this day is sacrosanct and just as this month is revered. You shall meet your Maker and We shall hold you to account on your deeds. So have I conveyed His message." As one of the root-causes of the security destabilization in Iraq is the propagation of erroneous ideas about our faith, particularly by hereticating, or otherwise casting as infidel Muslims who have professed their faith bearing witness that there is no God but God and that Mohamed is His Prophet, it has become abundantly clear that religious scholars are the most eminently qualified to refute and put to rest these allegations. They are in the ideal position to admonish those who have been deceived, on the consequences of their actions and thus bring them to refrain and desist from them. Moreover, Muslim scholars themselves are duty-bound before God and man to articulate and reaffirm this admonition. We offer our thanks to God that our uninterrupted endeavors at the OIC in this direction have achieved their objectives and that our brothersincluding senior Muslim religious authorities and scholarshave been able to meet at the International Islamic Fiqh Academy of the OIC and agree on the text of a document which spells out, for the benefit of all Muslims in Iraq, the facts about the rulings of Shari'a on the bloodshed and the perpetration of sin and acts of disobedience of God hiding behind the name of religion. This endeavor and this document have been accepted and endorsed by senior scholars from different religious schools and politicians in Iraq and elsewhere. Today, at this blessed hour and day, on this immaculate soil, this august gathering of eminent Muslim scholars and jurisprudential authorities are determined to put an end to the bloodshed, the killing of innocent human beings, the spreading of evil and wickedness on the earth, the terrorization of the innocent, and filling Iraq with scores of thousands of orphans, widows, and women dispossessed of their children or husbands. They are also determined to protect their faith from desecration, blasphemy, or violation of its sacrosanct principles and commandments; to make an official announcement to defend our magnanimous religion against any attempts to distort it or pervert its course, to stand up to the misperceptions about Islam around the world. Today, this august assembly of prominent scholars have met to sign and endorse the document that has won their consensus, each moved by his own faith and religious authority, so as to issue a clear statement and express proclamation to all Muslims on the position of Shari'a vis-à-vis the gruesome wickedness and hideous sins being perpetrated in Iraq. Therefore, I must congratulate all the people of Iraq and the peoples of the whole Muslim Ummah on this historic achievement, which willGod willingsucceed in stemming the bloodshed and restoring peace, security, and safety. I should particularly like to make a special mention of the distinguished scholars who have helped and assisted us in drawing up this invaluable document. If, by the Grace of God, we have been able to proclaim this historic document on this blessed night, it is now high time for us to go to work on translating it into concrete reality. At the same time, it behooves us to start disseminating this document as of this moment. It is our hope that the religious authorities and scholars will contribute considerably in this initiative by doing their part in mosques, houses of worship, and elsewhere. Governmental and private, printed and visual mass media, radio stations, and TV satellite channels, schools and universities, and other media should ensure greater coverage of this document so as to make sure it reaches all recipients throughout Iraq and even throughout the Muslim world. Thus, every Muslim will be able to face and recognize his responsibility and to be held to account before God and man, before the people of his country, and for the sake of his future on earth as well as in the hereafter vis-à-vis the abomination of killing a human being in direct violation of God's proscriptions and of spreading wickedness and evils on the earth in disgraceful disobedience of the word of God and His Prophet. From this sanctified platform, let me appeal to the scholars of the Muslim world to make this document the subject of their research, discussions, and speeches until it sinks deep into the hearts and minds of all Muslims. Let me appeal to them also to show no hesitation in publicly and formally coming out in condemnation, stigmatization and disowning of all these acts whoever their perpetrators may be. The Muslim public should show their full cooperation toward this end as this is the guaranteed way of coming out of the vortex of fratricides, retaliations, and reprisals. In conclusion, let me offer my prayers to Almighty God, Praise and Glory be to Him, to grace our efforts with His assistance to move forward from mere words to actual deeds, because that is the mission and the responsibility entrusted to all of us before God and the Muslim Ummah. In order to acquit ourselves of this momentous responsibility, we will have to exert all humanly possible efforts to succeed, hoping to help the Iraqi people concentrate on the recovery of their sovereignty, to reconstruct their country and launch the journey of development and progress in an atmosphere of security, peace, tranquility and Islamic brotherhood. For Almighty God says: "And say work: Soon God will see your deeds, and (so will) His Messenger and the believers". Truth Are the Words of Allah. Thank you for your attention. At the beginning of the press conference held in Makkah al Mukarramah upon the signing of Makkah al Mukarramah document on the inviolability of Muslim blood in Iraq the Secretary General of the OIC said: There is no doubt that you have seen and heard the proceedings of this blessed meeting to stop the shedding of Muslims blood in Iraq, during which, by Allah's given success, the Makkah Document was signed by the Iraqi religious authorities designated to do so. You have heard the text which will be distributed to you in addition to my opening statement thus making it unnecessary to repeat its details. At the outset I which to state that what was done today is the outcome of earnest efforts which we at the Organization of the Islamic Conference began a long time ago. A delegation of the OIC held contacts with Iraqi politicians. Contacts were also made with Iraq's neighbouring states that participated in many of our meetings. Our initiative to stem bloodshed in Iraq was also well received by Iraqi politicians and religious authorities. Proceeding from this positive orientation, we decided to commence the preparations to implement this initiative whose outcome is the signing today of this Document by the representatives of Iraq's Sunnis and Shiites, the aim of which is to halt the drift towards anarchy and prohibit the shedding of Muslims blood, among others. After the signing of this Document, the Sunni and Shiite religious authorities in Iraq will welcome it, as will be done by other religious authorities in many countries of the Muslim world. They will endeavour to disseminate its contents and condemn the mentioned crimes and their perpetrators. I would like to reiterate in this connection that the issue of implementation and the political will to implement is a decisive factor for the success of this initiative. We thank Allah that after we have passed the stage of acceptance, response and signing, we feel that we will all play our parts wholly in this regard such as to hopefully achieve a gradual tangible improvement of the security situation in Iraq with regard to the killings and sectarian vengeance. I cannot but extend deep gratitude to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the huge assistance and support it has given us for the good preparation and organization of this meeting. I would also like to thank the distinguished scholars who have contributed to this historic work which will be of benefit to all and sundry. I wish to seize this opportunity to appeal to media men to disseminate this initiative and its content in order that Muslims in Iraq and elsewhere and indeed the whole world can see the position of Islam on the taking of innocent lives, understand the erroneous interpretations of Islam's clear position on the matter, and consequently correct the distorted image of Islam in the world as a result of falsifications and crimes that Islam strongly forbids but which are used as justification for acts unknown in the religion. No doubt we hope that that this initiative and its wide dissemination will contribute to reducing security tension in Iraq in general and sectarian strife in particular, in the interest of all Iraqi people regardless of their sects. We hope that we have been able to do that successfully and that Allah will give the Iraqi people and the entire Islamic ummah the good dividends of this action. The efforts by the Organization of the Islamic Conference and the scholars who worked to produce the Makkah Document on the situation in Iraq and the Document itself have met resounding welcome and support from Islamic authorities and leaders the world over. The General Secretariat, after sending the draft document to Sunni and Shiite religious leaders, received messages from Their Eminences: Grand Ayatollah Syed Al-Sistani, Grand Ayatollah Sheikh Muhammad Al-Yaqubi, Grand Ayatollah Sheikh Bashir Husain Al-Najafi, His Eminence Ayatollah Sheikh Muhammad Mahdi Al Asifi, His Eminence Professor Dr Abdulkareem Zaidan and Sheikh Dr Harith Al-Dari. In his message, Ayatollah Syed Al-Sistani said he welcomed the Draft Makkah Document and called on everyone to abide by its provisions, stressing that what exist in Iraq was not sectarian strife between Iraqi Shiites and Muslim but political crisis and that "an exit from the current crisis requires a clear and sincere resolve by all to observe the inviolability of the blood of an Iraqi whoever he may be and to stop all forms of violence against each other so that scenes of car bombs, indiscriminate assassinations, forced expulsions and other tragic scenes will disappear forever, God willing. He said "Constructive dialogue to resolve outstanding crises and differences should begin on the basis of fairness, justice and equality of rights and responsibilities among all citizensas a prelude to the restoration of the full sovereignty of Iraqis over their country and to prepare for a better tomorrow where they will enjoy security, stability, progress and development by the help of God the Almighty." Ayatollah Sheikh Al Yaqubi's message says: "We in Iraq feel deeply grateful to the men who worked earnestly and sincerely to organize the conference of Muslim scholars in Makkah Al Mukarramah in other to stop the daily and unjustified bloodshed in Iraq Although we will not attend with you in person but our thoughts are with you I have seen the items of the Document and found them a collection of the characteristics of goodness, peace and tolerancetherefore I see it as necessary for all Iraqi citizens to work in accordance with the provisions of the signed Document which no one should violate or contradict. Whoever does so not only wrongs himself but his Ummah. Iraqis of all sects and races request all arms bearers under whatever justification, except the official forces responsible for the maintenance of security and the rule of law, to lay down their arms from when this blessed Document is signed in order to give chance for dialogue to resolve all problems that have led to this state." "The violence being witnessed in Iraq is not sectarian as Shiites and Sunnis had up till now lived as brothers loving one another, but largely political championed by the politicians" His Eminence called for "the meeting of all parties concerned during the blessed period of Hajj to study the outcome which will definitely be equally blessed because they have the patronage of the Bountiful God." The message of Ayatollah Sheikh Bashir Al-Najafi said: "We give our support to the whole of the Document. But it should be known that the root of bloodshed in Iraq is not sectarian but rather political differencesforeign quarters contributed significantly and continue to contribute to stirring the turmoil and bloodshed." The letter of Ayatullah Seikh Mohamed Mahdi Asafi read as follows: "I declare my solidarity with you concerning the provisions of the Draft Makkah al-Mukarramah Document, and I pray to Allah that this meeting may play an effective part in ending the sectarian disorder in Iraq and establishing firmly the rules and foundations set by the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Prayer Be upon Him) in his Farewell Pilgrimage for dealings among Muslims as well as all that was established to be said and done by the Prophet (PBUH) in all religious schools regarding the inviolability and sanctity of Muslims' blood, property and honor". Dr. Abdelkarim Zidane wrote in his letter: "I endorse your blessed endeavor God willing to issue Makkah al-Mukarramah Document regarding the duty of stemming the bloodshed of Muslims in Iraq". Having mentioned the sin of the deliberate killing of a Muslim and its punishment in this life and in the hereafter, His Eminence prayed to Almighty Allah that He may "guide Muslims toward achieving Islamic brotherhood and its requirements among themselves", stating that it was religious scholars' duty to illuminate and inform "as they have but the word and the pen". His Eminence Sheikh Dr. Harith Dari, Secretary-General of the Commission of Muslim Scholars wrote: "On the soil of Makkah al-Mukarramah, on these blessed days, the last ten days of the holy month of Ramadan, this meeting is held in an earnest endeavor by the virtuous people who feel sorry to see the bloodshed and aggression against the Iraqi people's properties and honor under religious and sectarian pretexts. I would like to emphasize here that this aggression does not reflect the real nature of these people, nor is it their own deed. What is taking place in Iraq is not a civil war; and those who claim so are indeed doing injustice to this country. Rather, these are crimes perpetrated by various circles, whose intentions and designs against these unarmed people are known. The Iraqi mosaic has never experienced difference before and has lived throughout history in concord and harmony. This meeting and its outcome, regardless of some circumstances, is a step in the right direction. What matters really is that we have to be serious in our endeavors, that we have the willingness to honor our word, far from utilizing these and similar occasions for interests that are far from the genuine interest of the Iraqi people". A number of Sunnite and Shiite religious leaderships in the world expressed their full support to the Document and its call for the interdiction of bloodshed and the violation of property and sanctities. His Eminence Dr. Mohamed Sayyid Tantawi, Sheikh Al Azhar; Sheikh Dr. Youssef Al Qaradawi, President of the World Council of Muslim Scholars; His Eminence Ayatullah Sayyid Mohamed Hussein Fazlullah and a number of senior scholars from Pakistan, Sudan, Libya and all Islamic countries, all of them supported the Document and called upon all Iraqis to abide by it and act in accordance with its provisions. The Bahraini Cabinet welcomed the Makkah Agreement, signed by Iraqi clergymen describing it as a positive step towards Iraqi national unity. Ministers praised the role of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah and the Saudi government in bringing together Iraqi clergymen and in embodying Saudi's unflinching support for Arab and Islamic causes. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini referred to the joint conference of Iraqi Sunni and Shiite Ulema in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, and signing of Makkah Covenant by Iraqi representatives and religious leaders as successful. "The gathering was held at the initiative of Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) and created rays of hope in the hearts of those who are concerned about Iraq's security," he added. He said that at the meeting in Makkah , the need to end factional and sectarian violence was underlined. Hosseini hoped that all Iraqis will coexist in peace and will manage to thwart the plots of the country's ill-wishers. Arab league secretary general, Amr Mussa, hailed the Makkah Declaration calling for an end to violence and bloodshed in Iraq. The document epitomizes islands invariables and teachings which require full commitment to halt bloodshed among Muslims and boost national and religious togetherness to safeguard Iraqs unity, sovereignty and independence, Mussa said in a statement. Mussa also extended greetings to the organization of Islamic conference (OIC) secretary general, Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu and the Saudi government for patronizing the conference which brought together Iraqi religious scholars to work out an agreement that would help spare Iraqis blood. The Arab League (AL) on Saturday welcomed the Makkah agreement reached by major Iraqi factions, in which Muslim Shiite and Sunni groups called for a stop to bloodshed and an end to sectarian violence, the League said in a press statement. AL Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs Ahmed Bin Helli said the agreement is the most worthy result of ongoing Arab and regional efforts to help Iraq overcome its current crisis. Concerted efforts and coordination are needed in Iraq's case, Helli said, voicing hope that the series of edicts issued by the Iraqi religious leadership in Makkah Friday will find resonance among the country's Sunni and Shiite militants. GCC Secretary General Abdul Rahman Al-Attiyah assured on Saturday that Gulf Cooperation Council states support Makkah 's reconciliation declaration aimed at ending the fighting between Iraqi Sunnis and Shiites. In a statement distributed here, Al-Attiyah said the 10-points document is a noble initiative from the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) to reconcile between the Moslem's of Iraq and spare many lives. He said the GCC states welcomed the document which calls for the unity of Iraq and all Moslems. Al-Attiyah urged all Moslems to unite and secure the proper implementation of the document and hoped that the document would contribute to regaining stability and security in Iraq and its people. Kuwait stated that it welcomed the Makkah Document singed by Iraq's Shiite and Sunni religious leaders on halting sectarian bloodshed in the war-torn country, Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) reported. Kuwaiti Deputy Prime Minister Ismael al-Shatti made the remarks in a statement after an extraordinary cabinet meeting headed by Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser al-Mohammad al-Bah. "The cabinet has expressed hope that the Makkah Document would achieve stability in Iraq and would pave the way for construction and development projects to be achieved serving the best interests of the Iraqi people," KUNA quoted the statement as saying. Darul Iftaa (the Egyptian religious edicts authority) hailed the signing of the Makkah Document. In a statement, Darul Iftaa expressed full support for the document as sectarian conflict is threatening Iraq's unity." It is high time for all parties to lay aside their disagreements and differences and to stop the killings and mosques attacks," the statement, carried by the Middle East News Agency (MENA), added. Egypt welcomed the Makkah agreement reached by major Iraqi factions, in which Muslim Shiite and Sunni groups called for a stop to bloodshed and an end to sectarian violence, Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit said in a press statement. Abul Gheit said the meeting in the Saudi holy city of Makkah mirrored the everyone's keenness on the safety and security of the Iraqis, the official news agency MENA said. "All acts of violence and terrorism in Iraq have nothing to do with Islam. They are committed by a misled group that does not wish Iraqis any good", Abul Gheit said. "Hands off Iraq" was Abul Gheit's call as he denounced any interference in the country's internal affairs and called for respecting Iraq's sovereignty and independence, according to MENA. Abul Gheit expressed Egypt's full commitment to standing by the Iraqi people until security and peace were realized, it said. Turkey welcomes Makkah Document to end bloodshed in Iraq Turkey threw its weight in favor of the so-called `Makkah Document' signed by Iraqi Shiite and Sunni religious leaders to end sectarian bloodshed. A Turkish Foreign Ministry statement, reads: "Turkey welcomes the outcome of a meeting of Iraqi Shiite and Sunni leaders on the initiative of the 57-member Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC)." The statement added, "Turkey will support any attempt aiming to guarantee Iraq's territorial integrity and stability." Mohammed Khatami, the President of the Organization of Dialogue among Cultures and Civilizations, has welcomed the document of Makkah In a message to Ihsanughlo, the Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), Khatami hoped that the pact of Makkah would pave the way for coexistence, tolerance and cooperation among all Muslim sects. The message, carried by the Iranian news agency, said this development would yield positive results and benefit the Muslim nation, the Middle East as well as the entire world. The message pointed out to the factions which advocate extremism in contradiction with the proper teachings of Islam which advocate mercy, wisdom and humanity. The message also pointed out to forces of hegemony which try to spread the phenomenon of Islamophobia in the world, notably in the western countries, and work for dividing the ranks of the Muslims. The senior United Nations envoy to Iraq welcomed the Makkah Declaration. In a statement issued in Baghdad, Ashraf Qazi applauded the "Makkah Al Mukaramah Declaration," calling it a "major step towards halting violence and healing the wounds in Iraq." He commended the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) for its initiative, which brought together the different religious leaders who endorsed the Declaration. Qazi "applauded Iraq's religious leaders who drafted and signed the text of this Declaration and called on Iraqi leaders to commit themselves to the letter and spirit of this Declaration." He said that Iraq's religious, political and social leaders have a responsibility to use their influence with all their followers to ensure that the tenets of this declaration were fulfilled as a matter of urgency. The Declaration noted that the worsening security situation made it imperative that Iraqi Muslims were united against sectarian violence. Qazi pledged that the UN "stands ready to provide any assistance required to facilitate the implementation of this Declaration." Also the envoy marked the occasion of the Eid Al-Fitr by extending his "sincere wishes to the Iraqi people and Government for a blessed holiday." He reaffirmed the UN's commitment to continued support and assistance for Iraq, consistent with its mandates and Iraqi aspiration for peace and harmony. US Ambassador to Iraqi Zalmay Khalilzad and General George Casey, commander of Multinational Force (MNF), stated that the Makkah Document must be supported by all Iraqi political leaders. The two officials called in a joint statement for backing the 10-item document and also stopping the sectarian violence in the country. The document was an ethical announcement, pointed out Khalilzad and Casey who added that it was time to unite Iraqis. The Makkah Document called for bridging the gap between Sunni and Shiite Muslims in Iraq and underlined the gravity of the sectarian crimes that were being committed. It also called for safeguarding national and Islamic unity against strife.