Friday, June 01, 2007
Al-Sadr's office denies letter forcing women to wear the veil
(AKI) -- The office of the Martyr al-Sadr, in the holy Shiite city of Najaf has denied news reports that the leader of the sect Moqtada al-Sadr had ordered all Christian and non Muslim women to wear a veil or face punishment. A letter has been circulating in Baghdad, signed by "The People's Foundation for the Master al-Mahdi Army", Sadr's powerful militia, warning Christian women to wear the veil and pointing out that the Virgin Mary worshipped by Christians did not have her head bare. In a statement to Adnkronos International (AKI) Sheikh Abu Zahra of the Sadrist movement declared that "this news is totally unfounded".
Sheikh Abu Zahra told AKI that "such baseless reports by the media are the work of certain groups which seek to sully the image of the Sadrist movement." This was, he said, because the faction "is at the head of the opposition to the American occuaption of Iraq".
"The Sadrist faction, in line with its religious role, urges Muslim women to wear the veil as prescribed by sharia (Islamic Law) but does not force them to do so, just encourages them. As for non Muslims, it is a personal question, but they must not approach holy Shiite sites. Abu Zahra went on to underline that "there have never been any incidents involving a Sadr member towards a non Muslim in the areas of Iraq where the group is present."
Sheikh Abu Zahra told AKI that "such baseless reports by the media are the work of certain groups which seek to sully the image of the Sadrist movement." This was, he said, because the faction "is at the head of the opposition to the American occuaption of Iraq".
"The Sadrist faction, in line with its religious role, urges Muslim women to wear the veil as prescribed by sharia (Islamic Law) but does not force them to do so, just encourages them. As for non Muslims, it is a personal question, but they must not approach holy Shiite sites. Abu Zahra went on to underline that "there have never been any incidents involving a Sadr member towards a non Muslim in the areas of Iraq where the group is present."
Labels: Moqtada Al-Sadr, Sheikh Abu Zahra, veils
