On November 19, 2006, Islamist websites posted a statement by the Islamic Army in Iraq denouncing the Iraqi government's decision to arrest prominent Sunni cleric Sheikh Hareth Al-Dhari, whom the statement says is secretary-general of the Association of Muslim Scholars in Iraq. The statement calls the decision to arrest Al-Dhari an offense to Sunnis - scholars and sheikhs as well as ordinary citizens - and a blow to anyone striving to achieve national reconciliation under the difficult circumstances prevailing in Iraq. It reads: "The ink on the Mecca Charter, [recently signed by] representatives of the Association [of Muslim Scholars in Iraq], [1] is not yet dry, [yet the government is already taking steps against the Sunnis]. This confirms what we have been saying all along - namely, that waging jihad against these Shi'ites is the only solution…"
The statement also says that the Iraqi government must be pressured to revoke the warrant and to officially apologize for it. It calls upon the mujahideen to stand united "like a solid wall [Koran 61:4]" to repel the attacks on them by the Americans and the Shi'ite infidels. Finally, the statement calls to "shut the door" on the National Reconciliation initiative, and warns all "honorable Iraqis" not to participate in it.
[1] The Mecca Charter was signed in October 2006 by Sunni and Shi'ite religious scholars. For more, see the previous post "Mujahideen Repond to Mecca Charter"
