Iraq Sunni clerics blame Shi’ite clerics for unrest

BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Iraq’s leading Sunni Muslim religious
organization blamed top Shi’ite clerics on Thursday for
fuelling sectarian tension in which dozens of Sunni Arabs have
been killed over the past 24 hours.

“The Muslim Clerics Association points the finger of blame
at certain Shi’ite religious authorities for calling for
demonstrations,” said spokesman Sheikh Abdul Salam al-Qubaisi.

His comments appeared to be rare criticism of Iraq’s top
Shi’ite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, who called for
protests on Wednesday over the bombing of a Shi’ite shrine in
the city of Samarra, north of Baghdad. Sistani also called for
restraint and said Sunni mosques should not be attacked.

Qubaisi softened his attack on the Shi’ite religious
authorities toward the end of his news conference but
criticised the general Shi’ite population for not heeding
Sistani’s calls for restraint.

“He said taking over Sunni mosques was forbidden … I
think that some listen to Sistani only when it suits them.

“Why didn’t I see these people rise up against the
Americans when they attacked the shrine of Imam Ali,” he added,
referring to a Shi’ite shrine in Najaf damaged in 2004 fighting
between U.S. forces and those of radical Shi’ite cleric Moqtada
al-Sadr.

Dozens of people, mostly minority Sunnis, were killed in
Baghdad and elsewhere after attackers blew up the Golden
Mosque, a major Shi’ite shrine in Samarra on Wednesday, police
said.

Dozens of Sunni mosques were also attacked in revenge the
same day and Shi’ite militias took to the streets.

Qubaisi urged Sadr to calm his armed supporters, who have
been roaming the streets of Baghdad and appear to have been at
the forefront of the violence.

“I call on Moqtada al-Sadr to interfere because some
matters are linked to his group,” he said.

Sadr is well-respected by some Sunni leaders for his
anti-U.S. stance.