The Hindu : Bukhari urges Muslim nations to unite against U.S.

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Mar 08, 2003

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Bukhari urges Muslim nations to unite against U.S.

By Our Staff Reporter

Muslims protesting against the possible U.S. attack on Iraq, in front of the Jama Masjid in New Delhi on Friday. — Photo: Sandeep Saxena

NEW DELHI MARCH 7. The Shahi Imam of Delhi's Jama Masjid, Syed Ahmed Bukhari, today urged all Muslim nations, particularly in the Arab world, to unite and challenge the U.S.' hegemony which was ``directed at eliminating Islam and Muslims from the world''.

Addressing those who had gathered at Jama Masjid to offer Friday prayers, Mr. Bukhari said divisions among Islamic nations had given the U.S. a chance to exploit them. ``The global scenario is changing fast and the urgent need is for all Islamic forces to unite under the leadership of Saudi Arabia to counter the misdemeanours of the U.S. and Israel. Once this happens the U.S. will never dare to harm any Islamic nation.''

Warning Kuwait, which had sided with the U.S., not to harbour any illusions as it could be the next target of the U.S., Mr. Bukhari said the U.S. and Israel were the only terrorists as they had converted the world into a battlefield. ``These two nations possess the maximum number of weapons of mass destruction which were being used to eliminate Muslim nations. The U.S. is solely responsible for arming both armies and terrorists with destructive weapons and was directly responsible for the loss of numerous lives.''

Warning the U.S. President, George W. Bush, that war against Iraq was war on Islam and all Muslims, Mr. Bukhari said Muslims in the world were not ready to bow to the U.S. Praising the Palestinians for fighting atrocities being committed by Israeli forces, the Shahi Imam said, ``Jews have already waged a war against Islam in Palestine which is being countered with all might.''

After Afghanistan where the U.S. had put in place its puppet government, it was now trying to do the same by dislodging Saddam Hussein, he alleged, adding that today it was Iraq tomorrow it could be any Islamic nation.

``It is only the Iraqis who have the right to choose their leader. The U.S. tried the same thing in Cuba by trying to forcibly replace Fidel Castro but failed miserably, now it is trying the same in Iraq where also its will have to bite the dust.''

Innocent Muslims across Iraq were suffering due to economic sanctions imposed by the United Nations under pressure from the U.S., the Shahi Imam said, alleging that the U.S. was now openly pursuing its anti-Muslim and anti-Islam policy.

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