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| Iraq |
| Kubaissi Opposes Theocratic Regime In Iraq |
| 2003-05-06 |
| Dr. Ahmad al-Kubaissi, the head of Iraq 's Muslim scholars committee, stressed he does not support the establishment of a theocratic government in Iraq at present because this has nothing to do with reality on the ground. Kubaissi, in an interview with the London-based Al-Sharq Al-Awsat Arabic daily published Tuesday, May 6, said religion is "the last thing that can bind Iraqis together." "There is nothing more dangerous on the unity of the Iraqi people than the cloak of religion and that is why I do not support a theocratic government in Iraq at such point of time," he emphasized. "We must rebuild the war-scarred country first before establishing any kind of government, whether or not a theocratic one. Iraq has been impoverished. We will rebuild Iraq first and then choose freely our government. Being Islamic, Baathist or communist does not really matter," Kubaissi explained. I'd beg to disagree, but continue. "Fifteen centuries have now relapsed and Muslims failed to lay the groundwork of the Islamic state (in Iraq ), so can we do it now? Does it make any sense?" Kubaissi wondered. Has common sense broken out? "We should not restrict the religion of the country to just one Muslim school," he told the London-based daily. "We need a country with a Muslim people, who can enjoy their unabridged freedoms and makes no room for prejudice against a certain community." Amen! Asked why he supported the return of monarchy to Iraq , Kubaissi argued that he wanted to steer Iraq clear of any sectarian sedition. He asserted, however, that by urging the return of monarchy, he is not calling for the return of the Hashemite family. The prominent scholar nominated Al-Jilani family as a possible royal family to rule Iraq . I have no problem with a constitutional monarchy along British lines, if that's what they want. Kubaissi also mocked at the prevailing opinion that the U.S. wanted to control the Iraqi oil, adding that " Iraq has not made whatsoever use of its oil over the past long decades." He further said that the oil revenues in the days ahead, "no matter how much the Americans will steal," will far outstrip those during the era of toppled Iraqi president Saddam Hussein, suggesting that Iraqis would now enjoy their oil resources now that Saddam is out of picture. So far, so good. The prominent Iraqi scholar also rejected bringing former Iraqi officials caught by U.S. troops before U.S. courts. "They must stand trial before Iraqi courts," he stressed. Also, fine by me. Makes it easier to call witnesses, have it televised all over Iraq and the world. On writing off Iraq 's debts and giving compensations for the victims of the U.S.-led war, Kubaissi said if he were a prime minister he would demand billions in compensations for every Iraqi child killed, every man wounded and every one handicapped during the U.S.-led air strikes. OK, here's where we depart. He said the United States has only one year to make good on its promises, asserting that if Washington fails in doing so, it would never honor its pledges to the Iraqis. Which promises is he talking about, I wonder? They are going to get at least an interim government well within a year. On April 26, Kubaissi told IslamOnline.net, in an exclusive interview, that it was "possible" to join a U.S.-installed government. "Yes, it is possible. This is now the destiny of the Iraqis and they must live with it," he said. All in all, he sounds like someone worth talking with. |
| Posted by:Steve |