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Statement by Prof.
Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu
Secretary-General
of the organization of the Islamic conference
At the beginning of
the press conference held in Makkah al mukarramah upon the signing of
Makkah al mukarramah document on the inviolability of Muslim blood in
Iraq
MAKKAH AL
MUKARRAMAH – KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA
28 RAMADAN 1427
H
20 OCTOBER 2006
Bismillahi
Rahmani Rahim
Ladies and
Gentlemen,
There is no doubt that you have seen and heard the proceedings of this
blessed meeting to stop the shedding of Muslims blood in Iraq, during
which, by Allah’s given success, the Makkah Document was signed by the
Iraqi religious authorities designated to do so. You have heard the
text which will be distributed to you in addition to my opening
statement thus making it unnecessary to repeat its details.
At
the outset I which to state that what was done today is the outcome of
earnest efforts which we at the Organization of the Islamic Conference
began a long time ago. A delegation of the OIC held contacts with
Iraqi politicians. Contacts were also made with Iraq’s neighbouring
states that participated in many of our meetings. Our initiative to
stem bloodshed in Iraq was also well received by Iraqi politicians and
religious authorities. Proceeding from this positive orientation, we
decided to commence the preparations to implement this initiative
whose outcome is the signing today of this Document by the
representatives of Iraq’s Sunnis and Shiites, the aim of which is to
halt the drift towards anarchy and prohibit the shedding of Muslims
blood, among others.
After the signing
of this Document, the Sunni and Shiite religious authorities in Iraq
will welcome it, as will be done by other religious authorities in
many countries of the Muslim world. They will endeavour to disseminate
its contents and condemn the mentioned crimes and their perpetrators.
I would like to
reiterate in this connection that the issue of implementation and the
political will to implement is a decisive factor for the success of
this initiative. We thank Allah that after we have passed the stage of
acceptance, response and signing, we feel that we will all play our
parts wholly in this regard such as to hopefully achieve a gradual
tangible improvement of the security situation in Iraq with regard to
the killings and sectarian vengeance.
I cannot but extend
deep gratitude to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the huge assistance
and support it has given us for the good preparation and organization
of this meeting.
I would also like
to thank the distinguished scholars who have contributed to this
historic work which will be of benefit to all and sundry.
I wish to seize
this opportunity to appeal to media men to disseminate this initiative
and its content in order that Muslims in Iraq and elsewhere and indeed
the whole world can see the position of Islam on the taking of
innocent lives, understand the erroneous interpretations of Islam’s
clear position on the matter, and consequently correct the distorted
image of Islam in the world as a result of falsifications and crimes
that Islam strongly forbids but which are used as justification for
acts unknown in the religion.
No doubt we hope
that that this initiative and its wide dissemination will contribute
to reducing security tension in Iraq in general and sectarian strife
in particular, in the interest of all Iraqi people regardless of their
sects. We hope that we have been able to do that successfully and that
Allah will give the Iraqi people and the entire Islamic ummah the good
dividends of this action.
Wa salam alaykum
warahmotullah wa barakatuh.
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