OIC chief condemns Iraq mosque carnage

The Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Iyad Ameen Madani on Sunday condemned "the heinous crime" perpetrated by militiamen against worshipers at Mos'ab ibn Omayr Mosque in Diyala Governorate, east Iraq. The Friday terrorist attack caused the death of 73 innocent worshippers; scores of others were severely injured. Madani offered his condolences to the bereaved families of the victims and prayed for the swift recovery of the wounded, according to a statement issued by the Organization here. The Secretary General denounced this and similar criminal acts that feed on sectarian strife, saying: "Such senseless acts seek to inflame tensions and sow discord among the different components of Iraqi society." "They also threaten the country's already fragilized social peace and harmony at a highly delicate juncture as Iraq scrambles to form a government which the OIC hopes to be inclusive," he added. Madani emphasized that firm measures need to be deployed to confront and hold to account the armed groups and militias that seem determined to unlock sectarian sentiments and fan denominational infighting.
It is not just peaceful coexistence in Iraq that is being jeopardized by the atrocious practices of these armed militias; it is the very future of Iraq that is at stake, he added. Madani reiterated his appeal to the political leadership in Baghdad and to Iraq's influential religious figures to work towards a sustainable reconciliation across the different components of Iraqi society. He reaffirmed the OIC's readiness to support Iraq by all possible means through this transitional phase in a bid to regain stability and security.