Thursday, October 19, 2006
Tribal leaders denounce insurgent 'Islamic State in Iraq'
Tribal, Insurgency
Tribal chieftains in the Al-Anbar Governorate condemned comments made by the Al-Qaeda-affiliated Mujahedin Shura Council on October 15, declaring the establishment of the Islamic State of Iraq. Tribal chief Abd al-Sattar Abu Rishah, the leader of the Islamic Salvation Council, told Al-Iraqiyah television on October 17: "We live in an Islamic country.... We do not want to learn Islam from those criminals. Islam is a religion of peace. It is not a religion of murder and terrorism." He stressed that the Al-Anbar tribal chieftains are following the leadership of Prime Minister al-Maliki and vowed to fight the terrorists and reveal their lies.
The Mujahedin Shura Council announced the establishment of an Islamic State in Baghdad, Anbar, Diyala, Kirkuk, Salah al-Din, Ninawa, and in other parts of the governorate of Babel. The group also delivered a special call to the tribal heads in Iraq, and to all Sunni Muslims in the country, to pledge loyalty to the “Emir of the Believers,” Abu Omar al-Baghdadi, by their adherence and obedience.
