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Host
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The session has started. Join us with your questions.
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Eric
- United States
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student
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I see that you are running for a position in the new parliment. From what I have read it seems that you may be putting yourself in great danger by taking a political position in the new Iraqi government. It must be that you feel great devotion and have great hope for your people and country to put yourself at such risk. I would like to know what your sense of duty is that motivates you, and what it is that you envision working for? Do you imagine trying to develop a new government that strictly adheres to the gospel of separation of church and state, or do you beleive it is possible have a balanced government that is neither inconsiderate of your people's values nor misled by a dominant religious group?
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First, we have some many abilities that enable us to correct many things now. Also, because of the love we have for our country, and because of the bad situation that our country is going through, we are ready to die for the sake of Iraq, although we consider our participation as a kind of peaceful resistance, because Iraq is for the Iraqis, not for the occupation forces. Besides, we are the sons of Iraq, so it is our right to represent our families, tribes, and people.
As to the second part of your question, we as Muslims seek to have guidance through the Qur`an, in which Allah says that He sent the Prophet with mercy to mankind. But if people want to separate religion from politics, then that’s fine with us; our slogan is: we wish our world to be united to build a free Iraq that is filled with justice and respect human’s dignity—which Islam calls for. And we don’t allow any party to make any Iraq a second-degree citizen. We Iraqis are all first-degree citizens.
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Saif
- United States
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Engineer
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It seems that the Americans have arranged these elections to further legitimize their surrogate Allawi. How will Shias in general and Moqtada in particular react when Allawi returns to power and refuses to ask foreign forces to leave?
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We are Sadrists, but we do not represent the political decision of Moqtada Al-Sadr. We are Sadrists, but we are independent. We follow Moqtada Al-Sadr. At the same time, if Allawi comes to power again and refuses to ask the occupation to leave Iraq, we will follow Al-Sadr and do whatever he says, whether through peaceful or military means.
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Umm Mustafa
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As-Salamu `alaykum. Do you think that you have much chance of winning a seat in the parliament? Aren't most of the Shiites boycotting the elections?
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We are very optimistic about having a considerable number of seats in the parliament.
It’s not true that Shiites are boycotting the elections; some Shiites are only suspending their participation, which is different from boycotting the elections.
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Syed
- Saudi Arabia
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Marketing
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Is it true that Sunni's are not willing to accept a government by Ayatullah's and that is why they are boycotting the elections. Are sunnis only 20% of the population? And in your opinion are elections going to be free and fair?
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Well, most of the Sunnis don’t seem to mind a Shiite government as long as it guarantees everyone’s rights. The reason Sunnis are boycotting is that they think that elections shouldn’t be held under the occupation; we might agree with that, and many Shiites might agree, too; but at the same time we think that elections is a way to remove the occupation.
As for the 20% we aren’t sure about that, but Shiites constitute the majority in Iraq.
We expect anything to happen: foreign parties might manipulate he results of the elections—and this might not happen; everything is possible.
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abdi sagal
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studen
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Fadilatul sheeikh, Iraq's security situation is deteriorating. The sunis have boycatted the elections, and it is most likey that Allawi and his stooges are coming back to power. My question is, how will reconciliation be conducted while substantial number of Iraqis are not represented in the next assembly?
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Actually we think that if we don’t hold the elections we will be giving a better chance to Allawi to come to power, because we will possibly provide him with many votes if we don’t run for elections.
As for the turnout of the elections, we think it’s a very good percentage and that its enough to make the process go successfully.
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Amal
- Egypt
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Salam alaikum:
I am wondering do you think the elections are valid knowing the chaos that Iraq is in now? Is there a chance that these elections maybe fraud?
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Walaykom assalam,
We think that the elections might be manipulated, and the result might be written in advance, and also it could be unfair; parties many interfere to change the results. But at the same time we are not sure that this will happen, so we participate hoping that the elections will be fair. If not, we hope to be able to prove the fraud and provide evidence to the world about it.
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imran
- Pakistan
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education
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MY QUESTION IS MY MUSLIM COUNTRIES NOT SUPPORTING IRAQ IN UNO AND NOT SUPPORTING SADDAM HUSSAIN.
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We think that the elections issue is mainly an internal Iraqi issue. We think that all other sides—Arabs and international actors—should not interfere with it. It’s an Iraqi business and only Iraqis should participate in it.
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Molly
- United Kingdom
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doctor
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Hi,
Will there be some monitoring tools by the existing government that can guarantee the integrity of the elections? and that all the different sects in Iraq participated?
Thank you
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I think that many international parties are participating to help insure the integrity of the elections. I think that even the UN is helping in that. The government is providing police and army men to provide security, and also the political parties that are running for elections have appointed representatives to watch the process and watch its integrity.
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abdi I reland
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student
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Sheikh, the Shiite population of Iraq and other parts of the Middle East have suffered greatly under totalitrian regimes in the Middle East ( except in Iran ). If Shiites form a majority of next elections do you think the rest of Shiites will breathing place?
And a second question: U.S.A is accusing brethren country Iran of being the top stouble spot; the American millitray is stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan. What do you think will an elected Iraq goverment's position be given that America is now the backbone of Iraqis' power?
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We think that Shiies, as they have been oppressed in so many countries, might and should be encouraged by the Shiite model in Iraq. This is not a Shiite matter only; it’s a matter of every oppressed person—Sunni, Kurd, or from any other group; justice should be given to all. So the Shiites have the right to lift that oppression they are subjected to, wherever they are, and we hope that the Iraqi model will inspire Shiites to do that in other countries in the world.
As for the part of the question on Iraq, we oppose any presence of any foreign military forces in Iraq; therefore we will work on getting all the American troops out of Iraq.
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