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Imams
expressed their anger that large numbers of tanks and troops
carriers are surrounding most Iraqi mosques
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BAGHDAD,
June 8 (IslamOnline.net) - Imams of Iraq’s mosques on Sunday, June 8,
rebuffed U.S. military warnings to avoid “political issues” and to
halt “inciting” speeches against its forces as long as occupation
keeps presence on their land, expressing their anger that large numbers
of tanks and troops carriers are surrounding most Iraqi mosques.
“The
actions of the U.S. occupation forces will doom all of their efforts for
understanding with Iraqis to failure,” Sheikh Moayyed Ibrahim
Al-A’zamy told IslamOnline.net.
The
U.S. administration began on Thursday, June 5, a large campaign to warn
mosque imams, inter alia, against inciting Muslim youths to carry out
attacks against the U.S. and British occupation forces.
“If
the occupying authority want our young men not to carry out resistance
attacks, it should make good on its promises made earlier to Iraqis, as
people here will never bow to occupation,” A’zamy argued.
Attacks
against the U.S. occupation forces have gained momentum, as
anti-American sentiments are growing with poor security situation, tough
living conditions and provocations made by these forces, including house
-to-house searched and reluctance to set up a national representative
government to fill the power vacuum in the post-Saddam Iraq.
A
total of 28 U.S. service personnel have died in fighting or accidents in
Iraq since May 1, the day U.S. President George W. Bush declared the war
was effectively over. The U.S. occupation forces became more cautious,
as clearly demonstrated in the increase of patrols in Baghdad and other
precautionary measures all over the country.
Challenged
Mosque
imams were even forced to sign a written pledge not to incite
worshippers against the U.S. occupation forces. But most of the imams
felt it dutiful to keep anti-American rhetoric until occupation forces
pack up and leave.
On
the Friday prayers, A’zamy criticized the U.S. military’s
procrastination concerning setting up an Iraqi government, warning that
anger over occupation forces would continue upping as the occupation
forces pay no heed to problems facing the Iraqis.
Sheikh
Raed Al-Saadi said the U.S. military practices in the country are
nothing but “provocative”. He called for setting up a national
government that “respects the Iraqis’ viewpoints.”
Much
to the anger and skepticism
of locals, the U.S. administration also decided to scrap
an Iraqi national conference to form the new government and planned
instead to appoint a 25-member council to run the oil-rich country,
dashing Iraqis’ hopes for holding free elections.
The
decision to set up an advisory council instead of devolving power to a
transitional government has also riled
the Iraqi opposition leaders, who accuse the U.S.-led troops of shunning
them and creating a "sovereignty vacuum."
Iraqi
tribal leaders lambasted in a meeting held Monday, June 2, with U.S.
officials hollow
American promises on interim government and other pledges that were
never honored.
“How
America singes the praises of democracy and freedom while preventing
people from expressing their views,” said Karim Fakhr Al-Ani.
“The
occupiers overpassed all lines, they now search cars on roads, set up
more checkpoints and storm into houses wrecking havoc there,” Al-Ani
added.
Many
Iraqis feel furious the occupation forces do not respect customs of
their conservative predominantly Muslim society with incessant
house-to-house searches and females frisking.
