2006 al-Askari mosque bombing
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The Al Askari Mosque bombing occured on February 22, 2006 at approximately 6:55am local time (0355 UTC), when explosions occured at Al Askari Mosque, one of the holiest sites in Shi'a Islam in Samarra, Iraq. Although no injuries occured due to the blast, it did result in violent protests in the following days.
The bombing
On February 22, 2006, at 6:55am (0355 UTC), explosions occurred at Al Askari Mosque, effectively destroying its golden dome and severely damaging the mosque. Several men, one wearing a military uniform, had earlier entered the mosque, tied up the guards there and set explosives, resulting in the blast. Two bombs were set off[1][2] by five[3] to seven[4] men dressed as personnel of the Iraqi Special forces[5] who entered the shrine during the morning.[6]
No injuries were reported following the bombing. However, the northern wall of the shrine was damaged by the bombs, causing the dome to collapse and destroying three-fourths of the structure along with it.[7][8]
Following the blast, US and Iraqi forces surrounded the shrine and began searching houses in the area. Five police officers responsible for protecting the mosque were taken into custody.[9]
Responsibility and accusations
No group has taken responsibility for the attack on the mosque. Despite the lack of information regarding the perpetrators of the attack, various institutions have issued statements regarding the incident.
- Iraqi president Jalal Talabani stated that the bombing was the work of takfiri groups seeking to stir up "sectarian strife" (Al-Hayat, 23 February 2006).
- The Jaysh-ul-Fatiheen, one of the Sunni militant groups active in the Iraqi insurgency, has issued a statement condemning the attacks, suggesting the bombing is not the work of any Sunni group. They cited a recent recorded message by Al-Qaeda's second-in-command Ayman Al-Zawahiri, in which he discourages attacks against Shi'a shrines.[citation needed]
- Majlis Shura Al-Mujahideen (Mujahideen Shura Council), under which the Iraq branch of Al-Qaeda operates, have issued a statement explicitly accusing Ibrahim Al-Jaafari's "government and [his] troops, in coordination with Iran". Other factions within the insurgency have issued similar statements. [10]
- President Bush initially implied that Al-Qaeda was responsible, but later emphasized that the perpetrators are unknown.[11]
- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad blamed the United States and Israel for the attack. He claimed that "these heinous acts are committed by a group of Zionists and occupiers that have failed." He warned, amid a crowd of protesters, that the United States would "not be saved from the wrath and power of the justice-seeking nations" by resorting to bombings like the one that occured at Al Askari Mosque. [12]
- Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah echoed the opinions of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in Beirut, Lebanon, accusing the United States of attacking the mosque to cause tension between the Sunni Muslims and Shi'ite Muslims in the Middle East. [13]
Reaction
In Najaf, shops were closed, while residents gathered at the city's 1920 Revolution Square for demonstrations. In Diwaniyah, all mosques, shops and markets were closed.[14] The bombing has instigated nationwide protests in Iraq and several reported counterattacks on Sunnis. Three Sunni clerics are among the dead.[15] On the day after the bombing up to 60 mosques were attacked in reprisals for the bombing, 50 in the Baghdad area alone, claiming more than 50 lives. Three mosques were completely destroyed by explosives.[16]
In the mainly Shia city of Basra, armed men in police uniforms seized 11 Sunni men, including some Saudi and Egyptian nationals, from the Mina prison; the men were later found dead and were believed to have been tortured. Ninety reprisal attacks on Sunni mosques are reported.[17] Jalal Talabani has warned that Iraq is now on the brink of civil war.
According to Chinapost summary, gunmen shot dead 47 civilians and left their bodies in a ditch near Baghdad Thursday. Sunni Arabs suspended their participation in talks on a new government.
At least 111 people were believed killed in the fury unleashed by Wednesday's attack, including three journalists working for Al-Arabiya television whose bodies were found on the outskirts of the city. Al-Arabiya is viewed in Iraq as favoring the United States.
The hardline Sunni Clerical Association of Muslim Scholars said 168 Sunni mosques had been attacked, 10 imams killed and 15 abducted since the shrine attack. The Interior Ministry said it could only confirm figures for Baghdad, where it had reports of 19 mosques attacked, one cleric killed and one abducted.
The sectarian violence threatens to derail U.S. plans to form a new national unity government representing all factions, including Sunni Arabs, who form the backbone of the insurgency.
Political reaction
Iraq
Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari has urged Iraqis to stay unified and peaceful, saying the attack was an effort to incite violence.[18] He has also called for three days of national mourning.[19]
A government organization called the Sunni Endowments which maintains Sunni mosques and shrines condemned the attack.
Worldwide
UK Foreign Secretary Jack Straw called the bombing a "criminal and sacrilegious act", urging Iraqis to show restraint and avoid retaliation.
Zalmay Khalilzad, Washington's ambassador to Iraq, and the top US commander in the country, Gen. George Casey, issued a joint statement saying the US would contribute to the shrine's reconstruction.[20]
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has laid blame on the United States and coalition forces. "They invade the shrine and bomb there because they oppose God and justice," Ahmadinejad said, referring to the U.S.-led multinational forces in Iraq.[21]
Religious response
Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani sent instructions to his followers forbidding attacks on Sunni mosques, especially the major ones in Baghdad, and called for seven days of mourning. He also hinted that religious militias could be given a bigger security role if the government was incapable of protecting holy shrines.
Muqtada as-Sadr condemned the attack and called for calm.
References
- ^ "Explosion destroys Shiite shrine golden dome". Ireland On-Line. February 23.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=and|year=/|date=mismatch (help) - ^ "Bombers strike Shia mausoleum in Iraq". IBN Live. February 23.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=and|year=/|date=mismatch (help) - ^ Knickmeyer, Ellen (February 23). "Bombing Shatters Mosque In Iraq". WashingtonPost.com.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=and|year=/|date=mismatch (help); Unknown parameter|publishyear=ignored (help) - ^ "Blast destroys golden dome of Iraq's shrine". HindustanTimes.com. February 23.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=and|year=/|date=mismatch (help) - ^ Knight, Sam (February 23). "Bombing of Shia shrine sparks wave of retaliation". TimesOnline.com.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=and|year=/|date=mismatch (help); Unknown parameter|publishyear=ignored (help) - ^ "Iraqi shrine bombing spurs wave of sectarian reprisals". CBC News. February 23.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=and|year=/|date=mismatch (help) - ^ "Blast destroys golden dome of Iraq's shrine". HindustanTimes.com. February 23.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=and|year=/|date=mismatch (help) - ^ Worth, Robert (February 23). "Blast Destroys Shrine in Iraq, Setting Off Sectarian Fury". NYTimes.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=and|year=/|date=mismatch (help); Unknown parameter|publishyear=ignored (help) - ^ "Famous Iraq mosque damaged in blast". Scotsman.com. February 23.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=and|year=/|date=mismatch (help) - ^ "The Mujahideen Shura Council Issues a Statement Alleging Blame on the Iraqi Government and al-Ghadr Brigade for the Attack on the Shi'ite Mosque". The Search for International Terrorist Entitles. February 23.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=and|year=/|date=mismatch (help) - ^ "Dozens Mosque Bombing an 'Evil Act,' Bush Says". 2006-02-23.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); Unknown parameter|org=ignored (help) - ^ "Iran president warns West over Iraq shrine blast". 2006-02-23.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); Unknown parameter|org=ignored (help) - ^ "Iran president warns West over Iraq shrine blast". 2006-02-23.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); Unknown parameter|org=ignored (help) - ^ "Title". Canada.com. February 23.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=and|year=/|date=mismatch (help) - ^ al-Amery, Amer (February 23). "Iraq shrine bomb fuels Shi'ite fury". Reuters.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=and|year=/|date=mismatch (help); Unknown parameter|publishyear=ignored (help) - ^ "Iraq: More Than 50 Killed in Shiite-Sunni Violence". ADNKI. February 23.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=and|year=/|date=mismatch (help) - ^ "Dozens killed in Iraq sectarian violence". Aljazeera.net. February 23.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=and|year=/|date=mismatch (help) - ^ "Gunmen strike 27 Baghdad mosques, kill imams". CNN.com. February 23.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=and|year=/|date=mismatch (help) - ^ "Samarra Mosque, Iraq Shiite Shrine, Damaged in Attack". Bloomberg.com. February 23.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=and|year=/|date=mismatch (help) - ^ "Iraq shrine blast sparks protests". BBC News. February 23.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=and|year=/|date=mismatch (help) - ^ "Iran: U.S., Israel Destroyed Iraqi Shrine". Breitbart.com. February 23.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=and|year=/|date=mismatch (help)