Sheik Yousuf Al-Qarahawi Calls Upon Iraqi Kurds to Join Sunni Fight against Shiites Once Mediation Fails

Following are excerpts from an address by Sheik Yousuf Al-Qaradhawi, which aired on Qatar TV on January 21, 2007.

Sheik Yousuf Al-Qaradhawi: I call upon our Kurdish brothers in Iraq to fulfill their duty, to carry out their role, and to do what is required of them. Forever taking a neutral position is unacceptable. They have taken a neutral position for a long time, but some events are now taking place in Iraq, which might lead to catastrophic results, and might stir up the entire Islamic world, dividing it into rival groups. I call upon our Kurdish brothers, I call upon Jalal Al-Talabani, Mas'oud Al-Barazani, and the Islamic and national Kurdish leaders... I call upon them to fulfill their duty – first of all, through mediation. They should mediate between the two sides. They constitute an influential force. They hold the posts of president and foreign minister, and they have significant power. They should mediate. "If two parties of believers fight one another, make peace between them. And if one party acts unjustly towards the other, fight the one acting unjustly, until it complies with Allah's command." This is Allah's decree to the nation. The Kurds are now required to take this stand. If their mediation is rejected, they must fight the party that acts unjustly. In my opinion, the Sunnis will not reject this mediation, because they are the oppressed ones. They are the ones being attacked. They are the ones being expelled from their homes. They are the ones whose mosques are being plundered. They are the ones who are being kidnapped from their homes. They are the ones whose decapitated heads are rolling in the streets. They are the ones who are severely tortured before being killed. They are the ones who suffer these tragedies. If the Shiite brothers reject [the mediation], the Kurds are required to support the oppressed.