We haven’t seen the Secretary General of AMSI Dr. Al-Dhari as satisfied and trustfully for failure and vanishing

of the project of American occupation and being Iraq returned to its unity and strong as this time. After several press meetings that gathered us with Sheikh Al-Dhari within the hard occupation years. He started as if he reads an open book knows the political scene although he undertakes the leading of legal association with his nationalist feelings and wisdom and attitude of his family and tribe full of victorious actions of resisting, defending the homeland Iraq and the unity of the nation. These details of Al-Dhari and his patriotic role in a very hard period of effective in the Iraqi history, it is not exaggerating to say that he accepted to be in front of legal resistance to both American and Iranian projects that they are attempting to tear Iraq into pieces and cut its ties. 

Al-Dhari could stand many difficulties as he is leading the big resistance; he is resolute to carry on his struggle what so ever it may cost. 

Why not the mujahid Dr.Harith Al-Dhari is the grandson of one of twentieth revolution (1921 Brigades) heroes who has hardly struggled with the British forces in twentieth last century. His grandfather was Sheikh Dhari Sulaiman Al-Mahmoud. He bravely stroked against the General of British occupants to Iraq (Lachman) who taught him a lesson in heroes, effectiveness and rejection of the occupation of Iraq. 

Since that date the real Iraqis shout the slogan written in their memories (Dhari has shocked London, London cried) as an expression of felling symbol of British occupation represented by Gen. Lachman by the hand of grandfather of Sheikh Harith Al-Dhari. 

Although facing the resistance to the occupation and the surrenders to the occupation project is too hard; Al-Dhari remained on his calmness calling for more patience and sacrificing. Because Iraq is worth’s this sacrifice and he is sure the shining morning is too close.

Under this circumstances it could be seen the role of Al-Dhari and AMSI in the political scene. To know more about the reality of his declarations regarding Al-Qaida and other questions that the Iraqis are interested in, this dialogue is done with him: 

·        We asked him about claims of relations to Al-Qaida?

o       He definitely showed his objections to this claim, he added that it has deviated and has other aims. There are two projects in Iraq the clashes upon these projects is continuing since four years, these two projects are; the National Iraqi Project which aims two liberate Iraq and protect the unity of the country. The other project is in conformity with occupation and only interests it. We think this project will not last only with the existence of the occupation.

·        Could you explain the contradictories of your latest declarations?

o       I have clearly answered the question that asked by journalist in a program conducted in Al-Jazeera Satellite Channel about my opinion of the wakening and the Al-Qaida by saying: it is not necessary to such troublemaking on purposely, it is a wickedness claim that will hurt us, they are cutting the paragraph without completing it or can declare what we really wanted to reach the audience.

·        But what is the aim of distortions of declarations?

o       The aim and intention are obvious, the business of media and political positions of the second project indicates that they wanted to trade with these words and its wrong concepts with some internal and Arabian environment to cover their failure project that hurt Iraq and the Iraqi nation also had destroyed them. It is strange that these people have started to build their imaginations upon these doubtful and distortions that accompanied our declarations in due time.

·        So what is your attitude from this media noise in attempt to distorate your attitude from Al-Qaida?

o       The Association of Muslim Scholars in Iraq (AMSI) was the first association that criticised Al-Qaida for beheading the Korean man before three years ago. Our requirements of Al-Zarkawi when he threatened our Shiite brothers prior to the return militias back which are moving on the demand of the government and the occupation to kill, especially after attacking the two domed tombs in Samarra. Then we declared that he should give up threatening. Because performance will threat the National Unity and it would be worthless to the National Iraqi resistance and opposes with our fair matter the matter of liberation. It is bad to Islam and its instructions.

o       So Sheikh Al-Dhari summarized that Al-Qaida has classified us from the enemy, we have talked about this subject, the Gen. Sec. of AMSI has reminded an event that has relation with the current situation in the country, he explained that when one of a tribe’s head has sent a letter to one of the twentieth revolution leaders telling him that : if don’t give up conflicting with the British unless otherwise we will cooperate with them, the leader has replied this expression : (it is up to you whatever you want to do, because we will carry on our way).

·        The AMSI has drawn back and established similar councils, how would you evaluate this?

o       Everybody knows the attitude of AMSI since its foundation, the political line that works on and its vision to Iraq after the occupation. It is not strange to those who practiced with occupation’s project and also many posts cooperated between each other joining in political project or so-called political operation to tarnish AMSI reputation, attitudes. They are doing its best to collect the doubts upon AMSI. They were claiming that AMSI has no clarified vision about the way of treating the Iraqi conditions, fundamentalist in its attitudes and strict in its requests and etc.

   All these were not enough that they encouraged all to attack the AMSI headquarter, inciting the authorities of the occupation to pressure on AMSI several times. Some of AMSI’s sheikhs have been arrested in addition to issuing notifications of arrests including Secretary General Dr. Harith Al-Dhari.

o    As you know that we have been accused with others as Maliki thinks claiming that we are interfered in the events of Zarka. The occupation forces with the government forces had killed about one thousand of our brothers from Zarka arresting thousands of men, women and children. Their cases are still continuing; even their relatives and their tribes in some Southern cities are under threat. They also attempted to gain from the structure of AMSI and finish it. They wanted to find an alternative for it that they could agree with it to be able to pass the American project through. As this has been stated in Baker-Hamilton note (Article 36), however, there was a special request from former US Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad who requested from some Iraqi authorities to finish the role of AMSI.

o    About your question of AMSI split, I answer that there is no such split as some thinks. There are two figures of our consultation council who have joined the new Council of Iraqi Scholars that recently installed. Their memberships were cancelled in our side because in according to the internal regulations of AMSI it is not permitted to join in two associations in one time. So AMSI is still standing on its activities by the General Secretariat. AMSI is more tied than ever from the point view of all aspects.  

·     Some information indicates that there are negotiations and contacts with Americans, some resistance groups and Baath Party representatives. What is it your attitude of such contacts?

o    We are hearing as you hear that there are contacts and dialogues between some of resistance groups and the occupation authorities. There are also allegations between some political posts such as members of Baath party. But we don’t know about them more. We only hope from our resistance brothers or other politicians whom are standing opposite to the occupation that these talks could be in the level of responsibility, in the sake of liberation of Iraq, ending the occupation in our country and not be as private benefits. 

·     You have rejected to visit Iran several times. For which reason? Where it could be the role of the Iranian risks? Are you anxious about the future of Iraq from this interference?

o    Yes I have rejected several invitations from our Iranian neighbor. There were both official and private invitations. My rejections of these invitations depend on some reasons that I have explained to them. Some of these were that Iranians were involving and cooperating with the occupation to invade Iraq as we are living their evil and destructive days. There were also the Iranian interference to Iraq’s affairs and supporting a certain group of the Iraqi nation that spread the dissensions among the innocent Iraqi nation which let the puppets of the occupation work on in order to make the occupation remain in Iraq. This was also led to steal as much as they can the sources and wealth of Iraq. Iran has supported the political operation which caused the destruction of Iraq and bloodshed of thousands of innocent Iraqis. It is also causing the migration of millions of Iraqi sons. It encourages and supports partition of Iraq into three parts. Iran has humiliated the Iraqis feelings and Iraq’s sovereignty in their own land. It has accepted to get into negotiations with the American concerning Iraq on the Iraqi territory as if Iraq has no people to decide.

For these reasons I have rejected to accept the aforesaid invitations and visit Iran. In spite of all these I have explained the reasons of my rejections through some Arab authorities whom have good relations with Iran. We sent our message that if Iran is really serious in its request, it must perform some steps towards the goodness of Iraq and show its good intensions such as openly declaring that it is with unity of Iraq, reject the political operation in Iraq and get rid of some groups whom are serving the American project in Iraq. If the Iranian are really opposes the Americans and willing to expel them from Iraq, we were expecting these good intentions to be conducted. But contra actions were performed; the president of Iran Mr. Ahmedi Najad has explained the opposition to Maliki’s government as mischief and corrupted. Therefore, if we are corrupted then it is not an honorable action to visit the peace lovers! We hope from the Iranian authorities to protect the benefits of their Iraqi neighbors and to act with the Iraqi people in the same way fairly manner.  

·     Although the wideness of the public objections for the latest American Congress decision to partition Iraq, the both two Kurdish parties and Grand Islamic council are insisting to confirm the decision. How would you explain this?

o    In spite of being the decision of the American Congress a disgusting one in the time when it was announced it can be considered a kind of worthwhile\harmful. Because it has discovered for the first time the objection of our nation whatsoever their ethnical and sectarian group they related to as Arab, Kurds, Turkmen, Christians, Sunnis and Shiites. The bad voice of both Kurdish parties and Grand Islamic Council are not representing the Iraqi nation willing. They were behaving before the issuance of the decision as if they are the exclusive representative for the Iraqi nation. The nation has started to talk and show there objection after the decision has been issued, the voice of rejection of the occupation and the partition from North to South. I am more satisfied than the passed time for the failure of the project and the continuity of Iraqi unity.

This article is translated by AMSI Press Department. © 2007

Original Article in Arabic: مقابلة شبكة أخبار العراق مع الشيخ الدكتور حارث الضاري