Zionists, occupiers behind Samarra crime, says Leader
Tehran, June 14, IRNA –
Iraq- Leader-Holy Shrines
The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, Thursday expressed condolences on the occasion of Wednesday's sacrilege to the holy shrines in Iraq and considered the occupiers and Zionists the main masterminds behind this 'big crime.'
The holy shrines of Shiite Imams, Ali al-Naqi (AS) and Hassan al-Askariya (AS) in the Iraqi city of Samarra were attacked Wednesday morning for the second time by terrorists. The holy shrines were first attacked on February 22, 2006.
"While being vigilant in the face of dangerous divisive policies of enemies, the ulema and dignitaries in the world of Islam and all Muslims, particularly the Iraqi people – Shia and Sunni - should maintain self-restraint and amity with their Muslim brethren more than ever," the Supreme Leader said in a message issued on the tragic event.
The criminal seditionists once against committed another crime, said the Leader adding the explosion at the holy shrines and the sacrilege to the Askari shrines have pit the world of Islam against a horrible conspiracy aimed at fanning the flames of a civil war in Iraq and engaging Muslim states in bloody religious and sectarian events.
The Leader said, "The disgraceful and blind-hearted agents behind this big crime, whether they are remaining stooges of Saddam's Baathist regime or the beguiled Wahhabi and Salafi fanatics, it cannot be doubted that the intelligence services of the occupiers and Zionists are the main masterminds of these heinous schemes.
"The occupiers have left the scene open to terrorists and panic-mongers to weaken the bases of the popular government of Iraq and justify their illegitimate presence in that country and are causing discord among Muslim brethren."
The Leader stressed that the Askari shrines were respected in Samarra by Sunni Muslims for centuries and nobody had in any time insulted them.
"Now, this is the second time that this holy and exalted site has been violated shamelessly and criminally during the domination of the occupiers," said Ayatollah Khamenei.
The Supreme Leader urged the Iraqi Shia and Sunni brethren not to be entrapped by the enemy conspiracies.
"Muslims throughout the world should be vigilant of the discord-sowing and war-mongering policies of enemies of Islam. Today, enemies will fan the flames of discord in Iraq, Palestine, Lebanon and any corner of the world of Islam that they can and instigate Muslims on various religious, partisan and ethnic pretexts to stand against each other and commit fratricide."
The Leader warned that Muslims should not help the enemies achieve their "dangerous and disgraceful objective".
The Supreme Leader called on the Sunni ulema to condemn the Samarra catastrophe and voice their disdain towards those behind this event.
Ayatollah Khamenei also invited the Shia ulema and followers of the Ahl-al-Beit (the infallible family of the Prophet (PBUH)) to self-restraint.
The Leader advised all ulema and religious dignitaries of the world of Islam to show amity towards their brethren and respect the religious sentiments of any faith.
Zionists, occupiers behind Samarra crime, says Leader
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