IECOC Statement

Unity in the Face of Destruction

Once again the holy shrines of our revered 10^th & 11^th holy imams were attacked in Samarra, Iraq on Wednesday, June 13, 2007. The perpetrators of the atrocious transgression are members of the Salafis and Takfiris who are financially and politically backed by terrorist organizations inside Iraq and are being supported by neighboring anti-Shia and anti-Muslim unity governments.

The Muslim community in America is once again abhorred by the wicked attack and premeditated destruction of this historical, international, and religious Muslim landmark. The American Muslim community holds accountable the custodians of the Golden Shrine—the Sunni Waqif (endowment) in Samara, the Iraqi government, and U.S. forces in Iraq. We call upon the Iraqi and U.S. governments to take serious and immediate actions against the perpetrators and to prevent any further attacks on the Islamic holy shrines, communities, and other places of worship in Iraq.

IECOC calls upon our Muslim American national organizations and the American Muslim leaders to fasten together as one voice in condemning the terrorist attack on the holy shrines in Iraq. Through a united Shia and Sunni front we can begin to counter and diffuse the plans of the enemy whose only aim is to rift apart the Muslim ummah and create a sectarian division and cause fiery detestation amongst the Muslims.