Press Release
[يُرِيدُونَ لِيُطْفِؤُوا نُورَ اللهِ بِأَفْوَاهِهِمْ وَاللهُ مُتِمُّ نُورِهِ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ الْكَافِرُونَ]
“They want to extinguish the light of Allah with their mouths, but Allah will perfect His light, although the disbelievers dislike it.” [As-Saff:8]
(Translated)

Since the occupation of Iraq in 2003, the American occupier has been playing the sectarian card and even established a sectarian and ethnic system to tear the country apart. They decided to divide the Sunni and Arab components from the Kurds and declared that the Shiite component represents the majority. Therefore, they believed it was their right to form and lead the government, bringing their own agents and appointing them over the heads of the Iraqi people. They unleashed the Iranian regime to be their tool in executing this malicious plan, starting with politicians whom they appointed, fully aware of their absolute loyalty to the Iranian regime. This was followed by the formation of armed factions, most of which were handpicked, and they became a force and authority above the state represented by the army. They provided significant services in executing their plan in Iraq and Syria, and the media disputes between them and the Iranian regime and its followers were nothing but a smoke screen to blind the eyes of the Iraqi people.

The American occupier, along with its tools represented by Iran and the armed factions, succeeded in tearing the country apart, plunging its people into the depths of darkness and igniting conflicts. The Iraqi people paid a high price in terms of bloodshed, displacement, and imprisonment. Iran worked to make Iraq its strategic depth and has openly stated on multiple occasions that it controls Iraq. Some of its officials have even stated that Baghdad is under Tehran's rule, and the reality confirms this. Everyone is aware of the extent of influence exerted by certain Iranian political and military figures through their frequent visits to Iraq and closed-door meetings in shaping successive governments.

The American occupier did not forget what the resistance did to humiliate and shove their noses into the dirt. It was on the verge of being eliminated if it weren't for Iran's rescue and the redirection of the resistance's weapons towards blind sectarian strife, fueled by their own agents. This was done to keep the people of the country occupied with killing each other and shedding their blood, instead of uniting as one hand against the occupying infidel, its allies, and its agents.

Every time this defeated people tries to heal its wounds and awaken from its slumber, a malicious sectarian figure emerges to spread poison and reopen its wounds. The latest example of this was the statement made by the former Prime Minister and leader of the Dawa Party, Nouri al-Maliki, during a celebration organized by the Dawa Party on the so-called Ghadir Day on July 8, 2023. He claimed that the companions, for 70 years, used to curse and revile Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, during the Eid celebration. Not content with that, he described Amr ibn al-Aas as wicked and Abu Musa al-Ashari as a traitor, aiming to win over the unaware Shia community and gather support for himself in the upcoming provincial council elections scheduled to take place at the end of this year. This is also an attempt to bridge the divide that occurred within this component due to power and political quotas during the formation of the government, particularly with the followers of the Sadr movement.

However, circumstances can change unexpectedly. On Sunday, July 16, 2023, supporters of the Sadr movement took action by closing down offices affiliated with the Dawa Party in central and southern Iraq, as a protest against what they deemed as "insults" directed by the party towards their late religious leader, Grand Ayatollah Mohammed Mohammad Sadiq al-Sadr. This left al-Maliki alarmed, and he issued a statement carried by Shafaq News, warning of the dangers of blind strife during this critical phase when our people are eagerly hoping for security and stability in the country, after being exhausted by conflicts and disputes. He emphasized that dividing the people and inciting animosity among different factions serves the interests of enemies who seek to undermine all effective and benevolent forces in society. The statement also called upon the Council of Representatives to legislate a law that prohibits any harm to the revered religious authorities, both living and deceased, in accordance with the constitution. It expressed hope that all parliamentary blocs would support this legislative approach in the council.

O Muslims in Iraq, the cup is full and the flood has reached its peak. Crying and lamenting will not benefit you as long as you live in humiliation, exploitation, manipulation, killings, displacement, corruption, theft, poor services, and demographic changes in many areas and cities. The cycle will continue unless you return to righteousness and obey the command of your Lord by working to establish His law. The time has come for you to bear all this no longer and stand together as one, in a mighty revolution that destroys the devil's stronghold. Their hatred has become evident from their mouths, and what they conceal in their hearts is even greater. By Allah, the affairs of this Ummah will not be rectified except by what rectified its beginning, and what rectified its beginning except Islam?! We call upon you, O Muslims, for the honor of this world and the Hereafter to work towards resume the Islamic way of life by establishing Khilafah Rashidah (rightly guided Caliphate) on the method of Prophethood.

[يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ اسْتَجِيبُواْ لِلّهِ وَلِلرَّسُولِ إِذَا دَعَاكُم لِمَا يُحْيِيكُمْ وَاعْلَمُواْ أَنَّ اللهَ يَحُولُ بَيْنَ الْمَرْءِ وَقَلْبِهِ وَأَنَّهُ إِلَيْهِ تُحْشَرُونَ]

“O you who have believed, respond to Allah and to the Messenger when he calls you to that which gives you life. And know that Allah intervenes between a man and his heart and that to Him you will be gathered.” [Al-Anfal:24]

Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir
in Wilayah Iraq