Iraq’s Religious Groups Meet in Amman to Reject Violence and Call for Common Action to Assure a Just Society
June 15th, 2003 by sfuqua
Representatives of each of Iraq’s major religious groups - including Shi’ite, Sunni, and Christian leaders - today [05/28/2003] rejected violence and called for common action to build a just society in Iraq. This was the first time representatives of all Iraqi religions met since Saddam Hussein took power.
First Meeting of Iraq’s Religious Groups Calls for Direct, Free and Democratic
Elections; a Constitution, and the Rule of Law; Seek Continued Support from
Religious Communities Worldwide
AMMAN, Jordan, (May 28, 2003) - Representatives of each of Iraq’s major religious
groups - including Shi’ite, Sunni, and Christian leaders - today rejected violence
and called for common action to build a just society in Iraq.
The meeting, titled “Rejecting Violence and Promoting Peace with Justice,”
was convened by the World Conference on Religion and Peace, and hosted by its
Moderator, His Royal Highness Prince El-Hassan bin Talal of Jordan. This was
the first time representatives of all Iraqi religions met since Saddam Hussein
took power.
In a “Joint Statement of Representatives of Iraq’s Religious Communities”
adopted at the conclusion of the meeting, representatives of Iraq’s religious
communities
- demanded that coalition forces abide by their full responsibilities as a
de facto occupying power under international law, particularly the Fourth
Geneva Convention and the relevant Hague Conventions.
- called on coalition forces to provide effective security to assure that
all Iraqis are safe and protected in their persons, households, and communities.
- called on international institutions and agencies to enhance the delivery
of humanitarian assistance through greater cooperation with Iraqi religious
and other social institutions, including women’s and youth groups.
- called for an immediate temporary Iraqi national government, to be followed
by a permanent Iraqi government built on the basis of direct, free and democratic
elections, a constitution, and the rule of law that protects equally all religious,
ethnic and national groupings.
- called for the creation of an Iraqi mechanism to provide advice on the situation
in Iraq to the United Nations Secretary General’s Special Representative.
Finally, the leaders urged the international community to follow through on
these recommendations, and invited the World Conference on Religion and Peace
(WCRP) to work in partnership with Iraq’s religious communities to achieve these
goals.
Dr. William Vendley, secretary general of the WCRP, said, “The Iraqi people
can be gratified that their religious leaders have begun the critically important
process of healing. Religious networks are uniquely equipped to meet the challenges
of our time, during times of conflict and during times of reconstruction. This
week’s conference demonstrates that collaboration of Iraq’s religious communities
is possible, is already a powerful tool to meet the needs of the Iraqi people,
and needs to be further strengthened.”
Attending the conference were representatives of the following Shi’ite leaders:
Ayatollah Muqtada al-Sadr, Sayyid Hussain al-Sadr, Ayatollah Mohammed al-Sayyid
al-Hakim, and participants close to Sayyed Ali al-Sestani. Sheikh Ahmed al-Qubiesy
attended on behalf of Iraq’s Sunni community. Christian leaders also participated,
including the Chaldean Catholic Archbishop of Baghdad Emanuael Deli.
The 20-plus representatives of Iraq’s religious communities were joined in
solidarity by more than 40 international religious leaders, including Dr. Bob
Edgar, general secretary of the U.S.-based National Council of Churches, a community
of 36 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican, and historically African American faith
groups.
WCRP’s Moderator, Prince El-Hassan bin Talal, said, “In these troubled times,
Iraq’s religious leaders give Iraqis a message of hope. Saving lives and upholding
the dignity of the Iraqi people is our sole aim in coming together. Pledging
common action to assure a just society in Iraq, these religious leaders demonstrate
that religion can be a powerful force for peace and for affirming our common
humanity.”
The World Conference on Religion and Peace is the largest world-wide coalition
of representatives of the major religions, committed to take common action to
promote peace.
