Muslims Urged to Read News with Critical Eye

Anaheim, CA: The Shura Council of Southern California, upon learning from the press that Saudi Arabia wishes to support Sunnis against Shi'is if the United States decides to leave Iraq, wrote to the Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to express its concern and to seek a verification of such reports.
The Ambassador of Saudi Arabia, Prince Turki Al Faisal, in his response, received by the Shura Council office, recorded his Government's position as follows:
That, "the Kingdom has always reaffirmed the importance of strengthening Iraq's unity, respecting its independence and sovereignty, and refraining from interfering in Iraq's internal affairs. Saudi Arabia holds the position that all initiatives affecting the future of Iraq must come from within, and they must reflect the free and independent will of all the Iraq people."
He further added, "The Kingdom seeks unity in Iraq, not a continuation of the sectarian violence that has brought so much bloodshed to that noble country."
"Sunnis and Shi'is have lived in Iraq peacefully for centuries. The tragic situation in Iraq today is more of political perversion rather than religious sectarianism," said Dr. Muzammil Siddiqi, Chairman of the Shura Council, a federation of Mosques and Muslim organizations in Southern California that includes people of all schools of thought from its very inception.
The Shura Council reminds Muslims of the Qur'anic mandate for sanctity of life and imperative for unity that transcends all schools of thought and ethnicities. Muslims are encouraged to read news with a critical eye and objective mind. It is important to defeat all forces of animosity that seek to foster hate and bigotry among Muslims.
The Shura Council recognizes the three-day Doha Conference for Dialog of Islamic Schools of Thought where people of various backgrounds reaffirmed their commitment toward universal brotherhood and sisterhood. Muslims in Southern California are encouraged to exchange visits and build lasting friendships and relationships across schools of thought and ethnicities.

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Editor: Akhtar M. Faruqui
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