Iraqi Islamic Party Urges Iraqis to Stand United

The Secretary General of the Iraqi Islamic Party Tareq el-Hashemy asserted that a mean conspiracy targets the unity of Iraqis. “There is a manufactured conspiracy designated to spark sectarian violence,” said el-Hashemy in a press conference held by the party to condemn the explosion of Imam Ali shrine. He stressed the significant role of religious authorities and its duty to contain the situation.
 
Upon hearing of the blast, the Islamic Party made contacts with clerics, chiefs of security bodies in Interior and Defense Ministries urging them to assume their role in the respect of security and protection of innocents. Nevertheless, more than 29 Sunni mosques were attacked and set ablaze. Besides, the headquarters of the Iraqi Islamic Party were assaulted. The last instance hit the party in Basra where 700 militants, including policemen who seemed involved, set it on fire and detained its staff,” el-Hashemy added.
 
At the end of the conference, el-Hashemy urged all sides to shoulder their responsibility. While he called for calm, he requested accounting negligent parties and strict resistance of this sectarian crisis.