As we mourn our Shia brothers and sisters who fell during their pilgrimage, conflicting stories are attempting to point the finger of blame at sectarian agendas. This stokes the fire of terror and plays directly into the hands of al-Qaeda and its terrorist affiliates in Iraq.

We must look at the facts. Sunni Arabs rushed to help their Shia brethren, some even jumping into the Tigris in vain attempts to save them. They have been giving blood and responding to calls from leaders of the Sunni community to provide assistance to the victims and survivors. These leaders have offered condolences and urged restraint, as have representatives of all other communities in Iraq. These are not the actions of a people embroiled in a sectarian war.

What happened may have been a tragic accident but there is no doubt that the fear of terrorism was behind the panic.

Our communities have co- existed without recourse to the civil war or sectarian strife that was predicted by the scaremongers. Our two communities never had a reason to quarrel. We lived in peace for over one thousand years. Our leaders and our people have shown remarkable maturity and restraint and we denounce all attacks aimed at our unity.

SALAH AL-SHAIKHLY
Holland Park, London

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