Dated: 03 January 2015

Original source (Arabic): http://jawabna.com/index.php/permalink/7663.html

Translation starts here:

His Excellency Sayid al-Qaid (may God preserve him): These sinful hands that assailed the innocent Sheikhs want nothing but to splinter Iraq and incite Sunni moderates to make them join Da3sh seem acceptable.

In the name of the Almighty.

There is no doubt that the terrorists target all sects and religions because it has itself no religion. Therefore it targets all without exceptions. What happened with respect to the killing of the members of the ulama in beloved Basra is but clear evidence that the terrorists have begun planning to destabilize security and stability in the stable provinces of Iraq by transmitting the abhorrent sectarian spirit, which is the only weapon they use.

So it is that these sinful hands that assailed the innocent sheikhs want only to divide Iraq and incite the Sunni moderates so that their joining Da3sh becomes something acceptable after they have become isolated and ostracised from all the sects, religions and ethnicities.

God have mercy on the martyrs and grant them compassion and grant their families patience and solace. We call on the citizens and believes who love God and the nation to distance themselves completely from all abhorrent sectarian issues, and to cooperate in order to uncover the perpetrators and let their prayers and sermons on the coming Friday condemn this incident and denounce it in order to deny terrorism a foothold in their provinces.

I request from the government they enlist their capabilities to uncover the perpetrators and the aggressors and preserve security and peace in these dear provinces so that they remain an example of peaceful coexistence… especially after this incident followed the visit of [Prime Minister] brother Abadi to the province seeking thereby to weaken and attenuate the government… But I confirm I am with the Prime Minister in continuing these field trips [to see the people first hand] which the communities have been denied in the past…

Asking the Almighty to protect Iraq and its people and its government, that they may live with security, faith and services.

Muqtada al-Sadr

03 January 2015