‘Conflict in Iraq is not between Shias and Sunnis’

The brutal conflict in Iraq is not between Shias and Sunnis, but against the dreaded Islamic State militant group which is killing members of both the sects, an Indian-origin top Shia cleric here has said. “Daesh is a brutal terrorist group which is killing both Shias and Sunnis. They are killing everyone,” said Grand Ayatollah Bashir Hussain al-Najafi.

He said the fight in Iraq is not between Shias and Sunnis.

“It was against Daesh,” said Najafi, a close aide of Grand Ayatollah Syed Ali Sistani.

He also criticised the Western media for projecting the war in Iraq as sectarian conflict, saying Shia and Sunni are brothers and they are together fighting against ISIS and liberated several cities from them.

“During a war the most important posts are that of defence minister and head of the state. In Iraq both positions now are headed by Sunnis,” the cleric said. “The terrorists are enemy of Iraq. Those who paint this conflict as a sectarian war are trying to destabilise Iraq,” he said.