Egyptian Salafist triumph after the Egyptian people gave Salifist
candidates
about 25% of votes in the first round of legislative
elections.
In nearby Iraq, the ruling Shiites are more than a little
concerned
about the rise of this Sunni group in nearby Syria.
Al-Arab Al-Yawm, Jordan
Influential Iraqi Shiite Leaders Warn of Likely Iraq-Syria War
"The
Council has evidence that in order to stem the rising Shiite tide in Iraq and Lebanon,
Saudi Arabia is backing extremists. Some are Salafists who want to
topple the Bashar al-Assad regime and take power by riding Syria's Salafi momentum."
Officials of the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq, under the leadership of Ammar Al Hakim, have
accused the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia of backing the arrival of Salafists to power in Syria.
They warned of war between Iraq and any such newcomers in the neighboring
country. Supreme Council officials told Al Arab Al Yaum that the
Council has evidence that in order to stem the rising Shiite tide in Iraq and Lebanon,
Saudi Arabia is backing extremists. Some are Salafists who want to
topple the Bashar al-Assad regime and take power by riding Syria's Salafi momentum.
[Editor's Note: According to Wikipedia, Salafism,
a word sometimes used as a synonym for Wahhabism, is a branch of
Sunni Islam. … Salafism has become associated with literalist and puritanical
approaches to Islamic theology. In the West the term Salafi has become
particularly associated with Muslims who espouse violent jihad against
civilians as a legitimate expression of Islam.]
The official, who spoke on
condition of annonymity, said that if Salafists took power anywhere in the
region, it would lead to a confrontation that would be very difficult to
control.
For his part, Hameed Al Maala,
a member of the National Assembly and a Supreme Islamic Council party member, denied
that this is the opinion of the Council. He said that this is just the view of
a number of party leaders. The official spokesman of the Supreme Council told Al
Arab Al Yaum that the organization views the rapid changes taking place in Arab
countries with some concern, since such changes may, "shake the region
with dire consequences," as he put it. He added, for example, that as a
result of the growth of armed extremist groups, the rapid change experienced in
Iraq had brought horrific results, many of which continue to inflict pain and
suffering on Iraqis.
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by WORLDMEETS.US
Al Maala underscored that although
the Supreme Islamic Council is proud of being a part of Shiite Islam, it will
judge the post-totalitarian Arab governments now taking shape in the Arab world
based on their application of democracy and whether they establish federal
government guarantees for the wellbeing of all, regardless of religious or
sectarian affiliation. Al Maala said that the Council also expects these
governments to improve public services and encourage the economic growth to
which the sons of the Arab peoples aspire.
Syrian leader Bashar
al-Assad speaks to Barbara Walters of ABC.
Al Maala also explained that
the position of the Supreme Islamic Council is to support the Iraqi government,
since the party is responsible for shaping Baghdad's position on regional
change and plays a strong role in drawing up the nation's foreign policy. He said
that all political blocs should stand in support of the government’s position. According
to Al Maala, Iraq has enough problems of its own that it doesn't need to
intervene in the problems of others. And as the nation is going through a
sensitive period with the withdrawal of U.S. forces, Iraqis must make the
difficult transition to managing their own affairs and to bringing the Iraqi
ship into safe harbor.
