3. The Shia and the modern Iraqi state
4. The authorities’ objectives in pursuing sectarianism
5. The nature of the Shia opposition
6. The politics of sectarianism
7. Sectarian differences and sectarian discrimination
8. The Shia of Iraq and national unity
Annex1References
Annex 2List of signatories
Annex 3Comments on the Declaration
Conclusion
It is essential that all the elements of Iraq’s political spectrum, as well as the representatives of Iraq’s varied communities, become involved in the process of finding a way out of the terrible situation that Iraq finds itself in now and which threaten its very survival. All these groups must participate in the process of change and the design of a new Iraqi state so that all have a stake in the outcome and could feel themselves true and equal partners in the country.
The Iraqi crisis has to be tackled at all its levels-political, through the elimination of dictatorship; sectarian, through the abolition of sectarian discrimination; and ethnic, through the elimination of ethnic and national preference. Furthermore, it would be necessary to consider policies and programmes that would provide redress to the many aggrieved groups in the country, and to establish a vision of Iraq’s future in which all would share. Any shortfall from this objective by adopting one perspective over another on the grounds of a gradualism that postpones the tackling of these issues to some indeterminate date in the future, is a recipe for further suffering and possibly disaster.
Constitutional guarantees and rights must be afforded to all of Iraq’s groups and communities, as well as the means to defend or enforce them. This must be the minimum requirement for rebuilding the Iraqi state on a new basis. The order of priorities in this declaration have been ranked in a methodical manner, and the sequential adoption of the policies that underpin needed change are based on the principle of their voluntary adoption through information dissemination and persuasion rather than their imposition by force or fiat.
The adoption of the constituent components of Iraq’s society of the elements of this declaration is important, not least for the reason that each should feel that they have accepted the main sources of grievance and redress of the other groups, and that they have all participated equally in the fashioning of a new Iraqi order.
Annex 1
The following are the main studies and works that have tackled the Iraqi Shia problem.
1. The speech given by Sayyid Baqir al-Hakim in Tehran under the title:"Shia consciousness in Iraq",dated 1402 AH
2. The book" The Crisis of Power in Iraq", by Abd el-Karim al-Uzri
3. The book"The Shia and the Nationalist State", by Hassan al-Alawi
4. The booklet"What do the Shia of Iraq want", by Sayyid Muhammed Bahr al-Uloom
5. The seminar on" Facets of the Shia crisis in Iraq"that was held under the auspices of Sayyid Abd el-Majid al-Khoei in the Khoei Foundation, London, 2000.
6. The book"The Shia issue in Iraq and the Husseini rites",by Ibrahim Hamoudi
7. The book"The present circumstances of the Shia of Iraq", by Sayyid Muhammed al-Hayderi
8. The book" The New World Order and the Shia of Iraq",by Adel Abd el-Mahdi
9. The book" An assessment of the fighting capabilities of the Shia of Iraq" by Mahdi Abd el-Mahdi
10. The booklet"The Shia Pronouncement"by Ghalib Shabandar
Annex 2
A partial list of signatories to the document follows:
|
Abdul Karim, Hayfaa (Mrs.) |
The Continuous Picket, London |
|
Abdul Mahdi, Adil |
Researcher, Writer, France |
|
Abdul Razzaq, Salah |
University Lecturer, Netherlands |
|
Abu Qlaam, Khalil Mohammed Hussein |
Businessman |
|
Abu Qlaam, Hadi |
Bank Manager |
|
Abu Tebeekh, Abbas (Dr.) |
University Lecturer, USA |
|
Ahmed, Nesh’at |
Islamic Union of Iraqi Turkumen |
|
Al Addad, Ali (Dr.) |
Consultant to NGOs, Geneva |
|
Al Adnani, Mohammed Sadiq (Professor) |
University Professor in Medicine and Poet |
|
Al Adwan, Ritha |
Medical Analysis CA |
|
Al Ali, Abdul Razzaq |
Organisation of Faily Kurds |
|
Al Ammar, Ali (Dr.) |
Consultant in Medicine, CA |
|
Al Aryan, Ali |
Ex Political Prisoner, Human Rights Activist |
|
Al Askarl, Sami |
Islamic Daw’a Party |
|
Al Attar, Mohammed Falah ( Shiekh) |
Orator and Rhetorician (Islamic Media Center, CA) |
|
Al Atiya, Firial (Mrs.) |
Activist on Women Issues |
|
Al Atiya, Jihad |
Businessman |
|
Al Atiya, Malallah (Sheikh) |
Supervisor, Imam Ali Islamic Centre, Cardiff |
|
Al Awad, Talib |
Politician |
|
Al Badran, Mohammed |
Human Rights Activist, Nashfield, Tennessee |
|
Al Badran, Ramadhan, |
Human Rights Activist, CA |
|
Al Basri, Abdul Aziz |
Lecturer in Arabic Language and Literature |
|
Al Basri, Kamal (Dr.) |
Economist |
|
Al Basri, Khairallah (Sheikh) |
Scholar of Religion |
|
Al Bassam, Mehdi Salih (Dr.) |
Cardiologist, USA |
|
Al Bustani, Abbas (Dr.) |
University Lecturer, Researcher, Publisher |
|
Al Bayati, Walid Saeed (Dr.) |
Writer, Researcher in Islamic & Arabic Civilisation |
|
Al Chalabi, Hassan, Professor |
University Chancellor & Professor of Law, Lebanon |
|
Al Dalli, Hadi (Dr.) |
Veterinary |
|
Al Eshayqir, Ibrahim (Dr.) |
Physician |
|
Al Fadhil, Munthir (Dr.) |
Visiting Associate Professor at the College of Law ICIS |
|
Al Haeiri, Jawad |
Writer |
|
Al Hakkak, Hassan (Dr.) |
University Lecturer |
|
Al Hakim, Abdul Hadi (Dr.) |
University Lecturer, Academic Researcher |
|
Al Hakim, Sahib (Dr.) |
Rapporteur on Human Rights in Iraq |
|
Al Hakim, Salih |
Religious Scholar, Denmark |
|
Al Hassan, Khalid, |
Businessman |
|
Al Hasani, Ali (Dr.) |
Islamic Thinker, Writer |
|
Al Hasani, Saleem (Dr.) |
Writer and Journalist |
|
Al Hashimi, Mahmood (Dr.) |
Consultant Ophthalmologist |
|
Al Hebib, Hussein |
Artist, Writer |
|
Al Hilali, Mahir Mohammed Ali (Dr.) |
Consultant in Haematology & Oncology |
|
Al Hillo, Muthar (Syed) |
Islamic Researcher |
|
Al Hussieni, Abbas (Dr.) |
University lecturer, Westminister University |
|
Al Hussieni, Ali (Dr.) |
Consultant Physician |
|
Al Hussieni, Bassam |
Engineer, Iraqi Community, CA |
|
Al Hussieni, Riadh |
Iraqi Media |
|
Al Hussieni, Hisham (Sheikh) |
Supervisor, Karbala, Islamic Centre, USA |
|
Al Ibadi, Imad |
Engineer, Activist on Social Issues |
|
Al Idi, Hassan (Dr.) |
University Lecturer |
|
Al Imara, Ghani Nassir |
Tribal Chief |
|
Al Jaddoe’e, Abbas Hatem (Dr.) |
Dental Surgery |
|
Al Jubori, Najat Hussien (Mrs.) |
Teacher |
|
Al Kadhimi, Mustafa |
Writer |
|
Al Khairallah, Jeleel |
Iraqi Islamic Cadres |
|
?Al Khelili, Ibtisam, ( Mrs.) |
European Women Union |
|
Al Kheteeb, Fadhil (Sheikh) |
Orator and Rhetorician |
|
Al Kheteeb, Hussien |
Human Rights Activist, Netherlands |
|
Al Kheteeb, ??Abdul Majeed (Dr.) |
Consultant Paediatrician |
|
Al Khateeb, Muhie Al Deen |
Diplomat |
|
Al Kheteeb, Salah (Dr.) |
Islamic Organisation of Human Rights, Geneva |
|
Al Khirsan, Abdul Ameer (Dr.) |
Ph.D., adviser on Travel and Tourism |
|
Al Kilidar, Adnan (Dr.) |
Dental Practitioner |
|
Al Kishmiri, Mohammed Baqir ( Sayed) |
Orator and Rhetorician |
|
Al Mahmood, Qasim (Dr.) |
University Lecturer |
|
Al Mehdawi, Ali (Dr.) |
University Lecturer |
|
Al Merzuq, Qais (Dr.) |
Communication Engineer CA |
|
Al Manshed, Takleef Mohammed |
Al Fodhool and Aal Ghizzi Tribes |
|
Al Mize’l, Talib Harbi |
Bani Rikkab Tribes |
|
Al Mizeil, Ismael Harbi |
Bani Rikkab Tribes |
|
Al Mueeny, Salah Alattar |
Poet |
|
Al Musawi, Abbass Kereem Nie’ma |
(Colonel) Pharmacist, 1991 Uprising Committee |
|
Al Musawi, Abdul Hussein Ubaies (Colonel) |
Figure 1991 March Uprising |
|
Al Musawi, Jawad Kadhum |
Businessman |
|
Al Musawi, Isra’a Abbas (Ms.) |
Management, CA |
|
Al Musawi, Mohammed (Syed) |
Secretary General of World Ahlul Bayt Islamic League |
|
Al Musawi, Mustafa Zaidan |
Iraqi Islamic Accord |
|
Al Musawi, Sabria Mahdi(Mrs.) |
Human rights Activist |
|
Al Musawi, Zahra’a Niema (Mrs.) |
Society Activist |
|
Al Qizwini, Baha’a (Dr.) |
Ph.D. Bio statistics |
|
Al Qizwini, Ibtihal (Dr.) Mrs. |
Physician |
|
Al Rezeen, Abdul Rahman |
Lawyer |
|
Al Rikabi, A’adil Khidhir A’al Fashakh |
Politics Activist, Washington, Seattle |
|
Al Rikabi, Hussein Anbar (Dr.) |
Consultant in Medicine |
|
Al Rikabi, Hussein |
Politician |
|
Al Rikabi, Fatima (Mrs.) |
Teacher |
|
Al Risan, Jawad Kadhum |
Chief, Hatcham Tribe, living in Holland |
|
Al Rubaei, Abdul Kereem |
Journalist, USA |
|
Al Rubaei, Adnan Abdul Ameer |
Engineer, Businessman |
|
Al Rubaei, Ahmed |
Management and Economy College, CA |
|
Al Rubaie, Ameer Jabir (Dr.) |
Ph.D. University Lecturer, Netherlands |
|
Al Rubaie, Mowaffak (Dr.) |
Neurologist |
|
Al Sa’yadi, Hassan Hadi (Dr.) |
University Lecturer |
|
Al Sabah, Adul Ameer Ubaies |
Major General, Diplomat |
|
Al Sabe’e, Taha (Dr.) |
University Lecturer in Economics CA |
|
Al Sadin, Ameen (Dr.) |
Consultant Physician |
|
Al Sadr, Ali Hussein |
Engineer |
|
Al Sadr, Mohammed (Dr.) |
Iraqi Democratic Platform, Ireland |
|
Al Salihi, Mohammed |
Management and Economics College CA |
|
Al Sari, Majid |
Writer, Sweden |
|
Al Sedaidi, Kholood (Dr.) Mrs. |
Dental Practitioner |
|
Al Sehel, Hazim Baqir |
Member of Bani Timim Tribe, living in Holland |
|
Al Sehel, Sefeya Sheikh Talib Mrs. |
Independent politician |
|
Al Sehlani, Fadhil (Sheikh) |
Spokesman for Muslim Scholars in USA |
|
Al Shabender, Ghalib |
Philosopher and Writer, Malmo, Sweden |
|
Al Shaboot, Muhsin (Dr.) |
Politician |
|
Al Shabut, Nebeel (Dr.) |
Consultant Surgeon |
|
Al Shabut, Neda (Dr.) |
University Lecturer |
|
Al Shabut, Nedeem Muhsin |
Computer Engineer |
|
Al Shar’a Abdul Muneim Salih |
Engineer, CA |
|
Al Shar’a, Azher Sachet |
Contractor CA |
|
Al Shar’a, Hassan Ibrahim, |
Businessman |
|
Al Shar’a Hayder |
Businessman CA |
|
Al Shar’a Sachet Sayed Isssa |
Leader in 1991 Uprising |
|
Al Sharr’a Salih Sayed Mohammed |
Tribes Chief, 1991 Uprising Middle Euphrates |
|
Al Shar’a Sami, |
Contractor CA |
|
Al Shami, Hussein (Syed) |
Dar Al Islam Foundation Supervisor |
|
Al Shatree, Aqeel |
Electric Engineer CA |
|
Al Shehristani, Hussein |
Nuclear Scientist |
|
Al Shekerchi, Dhia’a (Sheikh) |
General Secretary of Darul Huda. Hamburg |
|
Al Shethir, Nasir (Dr.) |
Former Judge |
|
Al Shibib, Hashim |
Diplomat, Politician |
|
Al Shibibi, Arwa Mohammed Ridha (Mrs.) |
Poet, Writer |
|
Al Shibibi, Hala Sadiq (Ms.) |
Journalist |
|
Al Shibibi, Sadiq Baqir |
Lawyer |
|
Al Shimmeri, Mohammed |
Businessman |
|
Al Swaij, Mohammed Zeki ( Syed) |
Supervisor, Islamic Propagation Foundation, USA |
|
Al Tabatabei, Makki Hussein(Dr.) |
Consultant Paediatrician |
|
Al Tae’e, Aziz |
Chief, American Iraqi Council, Philadelphia |
|
Al Timimi, Imad Muhammed |
Businessman CA |
|
Al Timimi, Sabah (Dr.) |
Physician |
|
Al Tuiraihi, Mohamed Saeid |
Historian, Researcher, |
|
Al Turaihi, Mohammed Jawad (Sheikh) |
Former Judge |
|
Al Turaihi, Muneer (Sheikh) |
Scholar of Religion |
|
Al Uzri, Abdul Kereem |
Writer, Former Cabinet Minister |
|
Al Zubaidi, Nejim |
Former Brigadier, Republican Guards |
|
Al Yasiri, Tawfeeq (Major General) |
Iraqi National Accord |
|
Alatiya, Jeleel (Dr.) |
Historian, Writer, living in France |
|
Alhakim, Bayan (Dr.) |
Interfaith International (UN), Geneva |
|
Alhillo, A’mir ( Syed) |
Head, Ahlul Bayt Islamic Centre, Vienna |
|
Ali, Faiq Sheikh |
Lawyer, Writer |
|
Allawi, Ali (Dr) |
Businessman, SAM, Oxford University |
|
Allawi, Ja’afer (Dr.) |
Consultant in Endocrinology |
|
Allawi, Ne’am (Mrs.) |
World Wide Welfare Organisation |
|
Allawi, Sabah Hashim |
Former Ambassador with the United Nations |
|
Allawi, Tawfeeq |
Businessman |
|
Alwash, Azzam (Dr.) |
PhD, Iraqi Forum For Democracy, USA |
|
Bahroolom, Mohammed Zeki (Syed) |
Islamic Scholar |
|
Bhaya, Musa(Dr.) |
Dental Surgeon USA |
|
Bilal, Salah Aal (Sheikh) |
Religious Scholar |
|
Bilal, Usama (Dr.) |
Consultant Psychiatrist |
|
Derweesh, Aliya (Dr.) |
University Lecturer in Engineering CA |
|
Derweesh, Faruq (Dr.) |
University Lecturer CA |
|
Eshaiker, Muhannad |
Architect, Iraqi Forum for Democracy |
|
Ewadh, A’adil (Dr.) |
Physician, Nebraska |
|
Fliaeh, Salam |
Car Merchant CA |
|
Hannon, Mohammed Shannan |
Human Rights Activist, Washington DC |
|
Hashim, Ali |
MSc. Businessman, USA |
|
Hussein, Ibrahim Mohammed (Dr.) |
Politician |
|
Hussein, Nawal Sheikh (Mrs.) |
Activist on Women Issues |
|
Huwedi, Abdul Ameer (Dr.) |
Scholar of Religion |
|
Ibrahim, Khalid |
Front Line Organisation, Ireland |
|
Jabr, Sa’ad Salih |
Head, Free Iraqi Council |
|
Kashif Alghita, Abdul Raheem |
Politician, Switzerland |
|
Kashif Alghita’a, Fadhil Abbas (Dr.) |
Consultant Physician |
|
Mahdi, Manal, ( Ms.) |
Engineer, USA |
|
Maksud, Ghalib |
Consultant in Law, USA |
|
Maso’od, Hassan ( Sheikh) |
Secretary General Ahlul Bayt Association, Glasgow |
|
Meshkoor, Fekhree (Dr.) |
Consultant Physician |
|
?Mustafa, Abdul Rahman |
Merchant, San Diego |
|
Shnyien, Naif ( Dr.) |
Accident and Emergency |
|
Shubber, Kadhum Syed Qasim |
Businessman, Spain |
|
Shubber, Kadum Jawad (Professor) |
University Lecturer: Management &Finance |
|
Simsim, Radhi |
Politician, San Francisco |
|
Tu’ma Mohammed |
Businessman, Nebraska |
|
Witwit, Ja’afer |
One of the Leaders of the 1991 Uprising |
|
Witwit, Qaisar |
Activist in the Iraqi Opposition |
|
Witwit, Zaid |
One of the leaders of 1991 Uprising, living in Holland |
|
Yousif, Maha (Dr.) |
Dental Surgeon USA |
|
Yousif, Mazin (Dr.) |
PhD, Medicine |
|
Yousif, Mayyada (Dr.) |
Physician USA |
|
Zaini, Mohammed Ali (Dr.) |
Economist |
Annex 3
The following are extracts drawn from letters by leading Scholars and Jurisprudents, commenting on and supporting theDeclaration of the Shia of Iraq.
Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Kadhim al-Haeri
" I have received your letters regarding the extent of the effort needed to retrieve the rights of Iraq’s Shia, and my reply follows…
Firstly: The rights of the Shia have been violated for a long time and up to our period today. This has been caused not by our Sunni brothers but as a result of tyrannical governments. We do not ask the minority sect in Iraq, the Sunnis, to grant rights to the Shia, the majority, for the scholars of Islam have all agreed that Islam does not differentiate between the rights of Muslims, irrespective of their sects.
Each member of a sect recognises and respects the particularities of its own sect, and we as followers of the Household of the Prophet recognise the limits of our sect and respect them.
Secondly: We demand that all tyrannical governments in Iraq cease from trampling the rights of the majority Shia; as we demand from them also that they cease to trample the rights of the minority Sunnis .We say to these governments; We are all Muslims and we enjoy equality of rights under the mantle of Islam.
Thirdly: It is essential that the rights of national minorities such as our brothers the Kurds and Turcomen and others be respected in parallel to the respect of the rights of the Arabs. This is an issue that has no bearing on the issue of sectarian discrimination. And from this perspective, the division of the Iraqi nation into Kurds, Shia and Sunnis is not accurate and mixes between the ethnic issue and the sectarian issue. It would appear to us that this is a deliberate ploy on the part of the international hegemonistic powers.
Fourthly: We demand from any non-Islamic government in Iraq to relinquish power and to allow the Iraqi nation to choose for itself the type of government it wants, which we are sure is an Islamic government."
His Eminence Sayyid Murtadha al-Askari, Dean, College of the Principles of Religion
" Recognising what the Shia of the Household of the Prophet have achieved in Iraq, we affirm the following:
Firstly; That the Shia of the Household of the Prophet are the majority of Iraq’s population.
Secondly: They struggled, under the guidance of their scholars, for the independence of Iraq.
Thirdly: Following the Second World War they confronted, culturally, the spread of communism .The treacherous Baath party that is in control of Iraq has murdered their scholars including the leading luminaries the martyrs Sayyid Muhammed Baqir al-Sadr, Sayyid Muhammed al-Sadr, and the lady martyr Bint-ul-Huda."
His Eminence Sayyid Muhammed Bahr-ul-Uloom
"… And the Iraqi Shia, being the majority in the country, have been the regular victims of these regimes, for whenever dictatorship increased in intensity, it was accompanied with an equal intensification of sectarian discrimination. The Saddamist dictatorship pushed further the limits of sectarianism by marginalizing the Shia religious authorities, and the liquidation of Shia scholars and notables and the destruction of their holy shrines and study circles. This was particularly 1991evidenced by the dictatorship raising the slogan of " No more Shia as of today!" following the popular uprising.
We believe that the struggle against the dictatorship must continue to remove tyranny and to replace it with the democratic alternative, and to remove political sectarianism. This will return to the Shia of Iraq their main role in rebuilding the state and realising the hopes of the people.
… And we must encourage all perspectives and objective analyses that are based on the recognition of the multiple particularities and identity of Iraq. We support vigorously all efforts that lead to the elaboration of a national programme that is commensurate with our people’s desire to build a civil society and a country that is based on law, in which the rights of the majority and minority are equally considered. This is the project of the Shia of Iraq, who are the backbone of the country.
We encourage all steps that contribute to this great goal and to lift the injustice from the Shia of Iraq, to confirm their rights, and to acknowledge the oppression that has been afflicted on them. And to take all the necessary measures to remove this burden and erase the traces of oppression."
His Eminence Sayyid Hussein al-Sadr
" And if we start from the base of our love for the unitary and united Iraq, and our concern for its stability and future prosperity, then it is incumbent on us to point out the historic injustice that has been experienced by the Shia of Iraq over many generations, and which has placed the Shii Iraqi citizen between the hammer of sectarianism and the anvil of social and political oppression.
Today, we are witnessing the signs of the removal of the butcher and his dictatorial regime that has oppressed our people and exposed them to the worst forms of deprivation and misery. And it time that we raise our voices loudly to demand that the oppression against the Shia be placed on the top of all the political projects and plans that are being devised for the coming period.
We are in favour of all sincere plans that strive to promote political equity in a pluralistic, parliamentary and constitutional Iraq; and we support all efforts to lift Iraq and its oppressed Shia population."
Islamic Daw’a Party
To be translated
His Eminence Shaikh Mohammed Baqir Al Nasseri
To be translated
