Anbar sit-ins: Baghdad violence is genocide

The Organizing Committee for Anbar sit-ins  have described the recent surge in violence in and around the Iraqi capital Baghdad, as a “genocide” adding that it is “sectarian and brutal revenge” against Sunnis by Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and his “sectarian militants.” Member of the Organizing Committee for Anbar sit-ins, Sheikh Ahmed al-Dulaimi told Arab Today that protesters in Anbar and other unrest ridden providences agreed on calling the sit-ins this Friday “Baghdad violence is genocide,” pointing out that the committee will reveal “the crimes of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and his sectarian militants against Sunnis in Baghdad and its surrounding areas.” Al-Dulaimi added that “giving a name to the Friday prayer sit-ins in Anbar highlights Maliki’s and his militants’ crimes against Sunnis.” Furthermore he pointed out that the Anbar sit-ins and the coordinating committees agree on naming the Friday sit-ins to show unity in achieving the common goals and demands they have had for over 8 months “amid the government’s silence.” On August 9, participant at the sit-in in Samarra in the Salahuddin province, accused the government of trying to forcefully relocate the residents of certain Baghdad areas, and blamed the security forces of tolerating the crimes of militants, During last week’s Friday prayers, the imam at the Ramadi sit-in called on Maliki to “stop supporting militants and gangs that kill and displace Sunnis,” pointing out that the "those militias seek to expel Sunnis from Baghdad areas." "The loyalty of the former Iraqi army was to God and the nation and not to a political party or another country,” the imam said. August 6, Maliki said “facing terrorist will continue until the elimination of terrorism,” pointing out that Iraq will not be influenced by extremists and calling on people in the military areas to cooperate with the security forces. Since the start of the year, attacks using multiple car bombs have become an almost daily occurrence. Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari, in Washington on Thursday, told Secretary of State John Kerry that the Iraqi people would not succumb to the violence and the government would not allow a lapse into civil or sectarian war.