Moqtada al Sadr: Enough !

Here is my version of the last few paragraphs of Moqtada al-Sadr's statement, issued Saturday, April 19, warning of "open war until liberation". See also other excerpts and helpful explanations on the RoadstoIraq site.

The text follows:

And look, what is the sin of the followers of Al Sadr that they should emerge from the oppression of the destroyer [Saddam] to fall, thereafter, under the oppression of the occupation, and of the government and the nawasib, and the great and the pulpits and the rumors and the assassinations and the policies that have come to us from beyond the borders, and the silence of the religious powers, and of the political powers, domestic and foreign and international? The beloved Gaza was blockaded and everyone was silent, and [likewise] now the city [Sadr City] is blockaded and everyone is silent, and where now are human rights, and [the rule of] laws, which they wish to impose for the sake of their spurious "freedom and democracy"?

Is their sin resistance which is the honor and strength of this world and the next, because the people have not and will not compromise their right to resist the occupier of any nationality. And we will announce, if they do not come to their senses, war until liberation and by God the blood of martyrs for liberation is in our veins, and it will be received by God with the best acceptance.

Or is their sin that they are the popular base which has not accepted your politics and your ugly worldly fighting, because they do not accept the partition of Iraq, nor do they accept the theft of its wealth, or any long-term agreement that favors the occupier more than it favors Iraqis, or leaving camps or fixed bases for the occupier... How many times have we extended our hand to our Sunni and Shia compatriots, sometimes praying together in the Abu Hanifa mosque [Sunni], and sometimes in the Buratha mosque [Supreme council]. And look how we were received! And we do not forget in our tribulation--in fact we are a tribe that favors them even in our penury--the Iraqi minorities, because we have defended the Christians, and the Shabak and the Turkman and the Chaldeans and others, and we still do. And what has been our reward for that except attacks on our Messenger, and the Pope going to visit the biggest country occupying our Iraq, forgetting the oppression that the Iraqi people face--both the majority and the minority. And forgetful likewise of the suffering of the people from poverty and want and lack of basic services and security and in other ways.

And therefore I direct this last warning and last word to the government of Iraq: Either it comes to its senses, takes the path of peace and renounces violence against its people, or else it will be like the government of the destroyer [Saddam], and even if everyone has allied with them [the present government], earlier they were allies of ours, and they could be [allies of ours] again...If [the government] does not come to its senses and sweep away its recalcitrance, and that of the militias that are part of it, then we will declare open war until liberation. For there is no charge of wrongdoing in against a person who is forced [to do something] against his will.

Finally I wish to thank those of the authorities who have spoken out through their preachers in rejection of the blockading of cities and particularly Sadr City, and against the government attacking persons for political reasons. And I criticize the silence of those of them who merely listen, and look--desiring from them and from the government of Iraq that they should demand from the occupier a schedule for its withdrawal at the earliest possible time.