by Pierre Balanian

Najaf (AsiaNews) – Hostages are "our brothers in creation" and therefore they must be released; to do them harm means "to hurt Islam", too, said the Imam Marjaiya (the highest Shiite religious authority) of Najaf, Mohamed Baker Al-Mahr in an official statement released today from his office. 

AsiaNews obtained a copy of the Arab-language written statement in which Mohamed Baker Al-Mahr asks for the release of the foreign hostages, especially the Italians and Russians who have been captured in Iraq.

Below is a full translation of the text:

From the Office of His Excellency Mohamed Baker Al-Mussawi Al-Mahri,  Najaf, May 15, 2004:

"Islam is a religion of peace, love and passion for the Divine as well as of that which (promotes) Muslims and non-Muslims living together harmoniously. 

This, indeed, has made illegitimate the reasons for any peaceful unbeliever to wage battle. This is true for the "People of the Book" (i.e. Christians and Jews) and the Dihimita (i.e. non-Muslims linked to Muslim religious authority via ties to Dihima when paying  a special tax in exchange for protection and guarantee to exercise certain rights, like practicing their faith). The same holds  true for those belonging to denominations protected by agreements struck with Muslim religious authorities. 

Praised be the Messenger (the Prophet Mohammed) who has guaranteed security of people on diplomatic missions and who has sanctioned this principle (non-violence), when  saying: "it is wrong to kill prophets".

Sunni and Shiite religious authorities, then, have established that it is wrong to bring injury or harm to others and even abduct non-Muslims who enter Islamic countries with their set ways of doing things.

These same authorities have also prohibited the detention of prisoners of war.

Hence, it is with great displeasure that we have heard the news of the capture of innocent civilians who had come to Iraq to meet the needs of the Iraqi people.

Among the captive are Italians, Russians and citizens of other countries.

The Italians, especially so, have developed intimate rapports and shown their deep-rooted cordiality in their relations with Muslims, Shiites and Sunnis (alike). There are numerous Islamic communities living peacefully in Italy, where they enjoy all  their rights and where no one does them harm or prevents them from practicing their faith.

In the name of the Shiite Marjaiya of the holy city of  Najaf, I ask that those who have taken these men hostage to respond to our request, to respect our Marjaiya authorities and great religion of Islam, which demands total respect for all humanity. 

These men are our brothers in creation. As Imam Ali Bnu Abi Taleb (cousin and son-in-law of Mohammed)  said: "Men are divided into two classes: your brothers in faith and your counterparts in creation." 

Thus, I beg them to release these hostages, whose only fault is having come to Iraq to help rebuild and restore our country's development.

Once again I ask their abductors to not bring harm to Islam and our Holy Prophet Mohammed. I pray that they not to blame the Italian, Russian and other hostages for what happened in Abu-Ghraib. Release them and you will fill the Prophet (Mohammed's) heart with joy and happiness." 

• iraq
• islam
• shiites
• hostages
• islamic
• fundamentalism