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| Iraq |
| Sadrist imam, 25 worshippers arrested in Diwaniya |
| 2008-07-12 |
| (VOI) -- A security force raided a mosque belonging to the Sadrists, or Iraqis loyal to Shiite leader Muqtada al-Sadr, and arrested its imam (preacher) along with 25 worshippers in Diwaniya on Friday, Sadr's office director in the province said. "A force from the Diwaniya Emergency raided Imam Ali mosque in northwestern Diwaniya and arrested the mosque preacher Sheikh Hussein al-Karbalaie and 25 worshippers," Sayyed Ali al-Gharabi told Aswat al-Iraq -- Voices of Iraq -- (VOI). Gharabi said the raiding force assaulted the imam and the worshippers by beating and verbal abuse before arresting them without any apparent reason," he said. Police sources could not be reached immediately for clarifications on the incident. However, an official source in the Diwaniya provincial building told VOI by phone that the reason for the arrest was "excesses and insults against the government during religious sermons and occasions in Imam Ali mosque". "According to the Iraqi law, the security forces are authorized to interfere against whoever needlessly insults the government and tarnish its image," the source, who did not want his name mentioned, said, not giving details. |
| Posted by:Fred |