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Islamic Human Rights Commission
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22 February 2006

Press Release: IHRC Condemns Sectarian Violence in Iraq

The Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC) condemns absolutely today’s bombing of the al-Askari shrine in Iraq and all sectarian violence in Iraq. IHRC further condemns any targeting of places of worship and targeting of civilians as senseless barbarity which has no justification whatsoever in Islam.

IHRC regards any acts of sectarian violence as playing into the hands of the occupying forces who have been attempting to stoke up such divisions for some time now to further their own political agenda.

IHRC Chair, Massoud Shadjareh said:

“Iraqis need to move beyond this cycle of violence between communities if they are to leave behind the brutal past that saw hundreds of thousands of people tortured and butchered. International players – the US particularly – saw fit to support Saddam Hussein’s murderous regime, and whilst the pain run deeps, only a consensus for change by Iraqis will let those demons rest.”

IHRC calls upon all parties in Iraq to refrain from such heinous actions which are completely contrary to the principles of Islam. IHRC also calls on the international community to base their policies on Iraq on human rights and justice, rather than political expediency.

For more information please contact (+44) 20 8904 4222, or (44) 7958 522196 or email:info@ihrc.org.[ ENDS ]

Islamic Human Rights Commission
PO Box 598
Wembley
HA9 7XH
United Kingdom

Telephone (+44) 20 8904 4222
Fax (+44) 20 8904 5183
Email: info@ihrc.org
Web: www.ihrc.org