Wednesday, December 06, 2006

VOA News - Iraqi Shi'ite Leader Criticizes Violence Against Islamic Teaching

VOA News - Iraqi Shi'ite Leader Criticizes Violence Against Islamic Teaching: "Iraqi Shi'ite leader Abdul Aziz al-Hakim said Islam allows for political freedoms that are essential for Iraq - a country still adjusting from the regime of former dictator Saddam Hussein.

'Man is free to choose what he wants, to live whenever he likes, to adopt any political system, to speak his opinion even though this opinion might contradict that of the ruler,' said Abdul Aziz al-Hakim.

Hakim heads the Iraqi Shi'ite faction known as the Supreme Council of Islamic Revolution. This group holds a large block of seats in the Iraqi parliament.

Speaking at Catholic University, Hakim delivered a lecture on Shi'ite Islamic freedoms and the future of Iraq. He said Islam's political freedoms come with an important responsibility.

'It believes in the freedom of mankind to take any position with regard to the public issues as long as this does not violate the public interests,' he said.

He said people are given wide freedoms as long as they do not threaten to destroy society or promote fighting or corruption.

Hakim voiced his regret that some groups in his country and elsewhere are using Islam in order to, what he calls, 'cover up their crimes.'"

3 comments:

Rick Ballard said...

It's good to see Maliki's replacement getting in some innings. It will make the transition more palatable.

Forward to true consensus!

Unknown said...

What makes you think he is Maliki's replacement? Complain about Maliki all you want, but he has a very had job and his very life is on the line. This is the Middle East after all. I read someting once that stuck in my mind. Sometime the choice is not between good and bad, but between bad and worse.

Besides this Shi'ite leader is a Muslim and as we all know they are barbarians and incapable of acting like people. Unless they are Kurds and unless they say the right things. And unless the press actually decides to do an article about a Muslim who is not blowing something up or threatening to.

He does sound like an interesting man.

Rick Ballard said...

"He does sound like an interesting man."

He sure does! When Maliki gets tossed overboard he'll sound even more interesting.