(Muthanna al-Dhari) - The position of AMSI from the conference of scholars of Iraq III, held in Amman, resulted in the formation of the Council of Scholars of Iraq and another council of fatwa, expressed by Dr. Muhammad Bashar al-Faydi in an interview with al-Jazeera.

The Association of Muslim Scholars in Iraq (AMSI) satisfied with this position without being issued a statement on this issue because it does not deserve so much.

The topic of the Council of Scholars was not consulted and did not take our view on it. However, what happened really was the conference which was so-called at the end. 40 to 50, not more than, members of the Association of Muslim Scholars in Iraq (AMSI) attended to this program because they were imams, preachers and scholars as employees in Sunni Foundation. The invitation was for the annual conference of Sunni Foundation held in Baghdad in each year. Those people attended to the meeting to discuss the affairs and burning of mosques, attacks and assassinations of imams and deportation to the outside. Therefore the participation was crowded.

(al-Jazeera) - Do you want to say that the topic was not originally for the formation of the new council?

(Muthanna al-Dhari) - Most of those who attended this program came for the goals which I mentioned earlier. Those people had another aim in visit Amman to meet with the Secretary General of the Association of Muslim Scholars in Iraq (AMSI) Sheikh Hareth al-Dhari, where he lives now. Secretary General has invited them to the big ceremony at his residence, where they talked about their view because they were surprised in the establishment of the council.

(al-Jazeera) -A major question still over the new council, including whether it is a substitute for AMSI? Or do you see AMSI in the establishment as an attempt to remove him from the representation of the Sunnis in Iraq?

(Muthanna al-Dhari) - This question was repeatedly asked. It seems that the media very concern us on this issue. From here I affirm that we are never worried. We do not say anything to anybody who wants to work in the arena in order to serve the national interest of the Iraqi enterprise, just saying you are welcome.

When we - as AMSI - we worked in the political, information and cultural arena we felt that there was a great need for united efforts in this area, so we always welcomed the emergence of active associations, organizations in this area and so we call for united efforts.

We hope that the establishment of new organizations will be advantages for us and to lessen our burden because we face harassment from the occupation forces and the governments, including the current government.

If there were any other intentions and objectives of the conference held in Amman, you should ask to them.

We again said that AMSI welcomes any effort to maintain the unity, national interests and protection of religious and national principles of Iraqis.

(al-Jazeera) - But there are some questions. Some people wonder and say that there is a division in 1920 Brigades as HAMAS and Iraq Brigades. The formation of this Council, which is accused by some as a front controlled by the Islamic party is to be away from the front of the representation of the Sunnis. What is your opinion?

(Muthanna al-Dhari) - As I told you at the beginning.

(al-Jazeera) - Please be away from the diplomatic answers. 

(Muthanna al-Dhari) - We say that there are significant efforts being made on the Iraqi scene now, and many are in the water table on the subject of the resistance or political issue and legitimate, and many people have personal hard work and legitimate, and the arena is the criterion of wisdom and the health and efficiency of these procedures.

We have started to work in the arena four years ago. I do not want to mention about how Iraqi people, Arab and Islamic countries respect the Association of Muslim Scholars in Iraq (AMSI). We are not talking about, but we see clear reflections in everywhere where we go. Because AMSI was established for the liberation of Iraq and supporting the Iraqi resistance. Good news of the projects which announced by AMSI in 2004 including the scheduling of the withdrawal of the occupation is being seen. We look at the issues from this perspective.

Whoever says or criticizes no matter for us. The important thing is that there is a plan and political project of AMSI. I believe that we have never and will not get out of our project.

From the beginning we are saying that the political process will fail, the system based on sectarianism will collapse, occupation forces will withdraw in a schedule and unifying of the Iraqi resistance is a necessity.

(al-Jazeera) - But there are divisions among Sunnis. Hamas-Iraq leaves Iraq 1920 Revolution Brigades from one side, and a complaint from the Islamic Army on al-Qaida and others on the other side..

(Muthanna al-Dhari) - I believe that there is no division among resistance groups. We think that such developments are based on reconsideration of some of their visions, ideas and make self-criticism practiced by the resistance factions. It is their natural right to exercise it without any sponsorship from any party whatsoever.

As for the issue of Hamas-Iraq, I think that many of the analysts take up this issue very far away from the reality. Some of them made very big mistakes as a result of lack of information. Those people think that there is a big conspiracy involving states and institutions as those factions will destroy another.

The statement issued by 1920 Revolution Brigades is clear and distinct. According to this statement the division of two legions is clearly and explicitly emphasized as a result of agreement.

There is a break but it was amicably within understanding result of differences in viewpoints, which led to the parties to agree on the apportionment of the brigades in the two factions. One of them chose Hamas-Iraq and the other one chose the name as it was. This is the case as I read it without any hype.

(al-Jazeera) - AMSI was officially recognized unexpectedly by Arab governments and dealt with major Arab parties with a high degree of attention. Is this interest whether recognition of the representation of the Sunni people, or that some Arabs falls in attempts to expulse Americans from predicament?

(Muthanna al-Dhari) - Yes, there are two views, but the first one is credible. The recognition of the Association of Muslim Scholars in Iraq (AMSI) by the Arab states is for its important impact as being a very strong vanguard against the anti-occupation forces in Iraq, and not the issue of Sunni or any others. Because we -AMSI- look at this issue in the national framework.

These states finally approved the size and role of the Association of Muslim Scholars in Iraq (AMSI). This gives proof that there is a breakthrough in the Iraqi situation, but is this relaxation leads with the results we desire? I think to say the developments are as we expect is very earlier. The road is still long.

At the same time, this recognition highlights that any attempts to downplay AMSI and their impact on the arena that will never find a place to put up. Because this is reached only after four years of efforts. It is unnatural to start the establishment of something new after all these years and achieved the success of the project that we have.

The other view says that the recognition of the Arab body is an attempt to extricate the Americans from the predicament.

(al-Jazeera) - According to some rumors that Arab states tried to arrange meeting between AMSI and American officials. What is your comment?

(Muthanna al-Dhari) - We believe that Arab countries are active in this period and are trying to find a solution to the Iraqi issue. Every state has its own policies based on their information which may vary from one State to another.

We are listening to all comments and opinions from these states; however we are not obliged to accept this one or that one. We must inform them on everything that is happening in Iraq. In this framework we want them to cooperate with us in finding a solution to the Iraqi issue. We think that it would not be beneficial to the Iraqis to find a solution to Americans alone.

This interview was originally published at Al Jazeera Net and translated by AMSI Press Department. © 2007