Rasa News Agency - The Society of Seminary Teachers of Qom has issued a statement of condemnation following the brutal terrorist attacks in northern Iraq by the Takfiri group “The Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).”
The text of the message is as follows:
In the last few days, there have been news reports in regards to the activities of a group of terrorists in Iraq who call themselves “The Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).”
The holding of free elections and the full participation of the people of Syria, and the Syrian people’s interest in the option of resistance, has led to the frustration of the enemies of the resistance. The increasing success of the ‘axis of resistance’ on the Syrian front, and the growing frustration of Takfiri groups and their Western and Arab donors and supporters there, is a sign that this crisis will likely spread to other areas in response.
The Takfiris launched a failed attack aimed at destroying the holy al-Askariayn shrine in the holy city of Samarra with the aim of occupying the province of Nineveh and they have also launched attacks on other nearby provinces. After their operations in the province of al-Anbar, a serious warning was announced by the Takfiri terrorists who call themselves “The Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant,” that they will continue to increase their [terrorist] actions.
The Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant has threatened the destruction of the holy shrines of the Imams in Iraq. We are very concerned by these threats.
The ongoing expansion of the crisis in Iraq is due to the political situation of the country and the ongoing transition of power in this country. Iraqi officials and leaders must pay special attention to this critical situation in order to deal decisively with the threats and alleviate the risk of creating further ethnic and religious crises.
The Society of Qom Seminary Teachers condemns the violent actions of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant terrorist group. They have brutally massacred many innocent people and unleashed a wave of terror. We recommend the Iraqi government and people to maintain unity and cooperate. They must acknowledge the authority of the sources of emulation, and especially pay head to the guidance of the esteemed source of emulation, His Eminence Grand Ayatollah Sayyed Ali as-Sistani.
The Society of Qom Seminary Teachers warns the regional and international supporters of the various Takfiri groups against continuing the current crisis. The state sponsors of terrorism are responsible for all costs incurred. The authorities must bring these sponsors to justice for the causalities which they have caused – both the monetary cost has been great and many [innocent] lives have been lost.
Mohammad Yazdi
Chairman of the Supreme Council of the Society of Qom Seminary Teachers
June 12, 2014
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