Dr. Ikrima Sabri to HEYET Net: the occupier of Palestine and Iraq is the one.HEYET Net Correspondance Jassim al Shammari from the Jordanian capital Amman held a brief interview with Dr. Ikrima Sabri about the occupation, the efforts of the Association of Muslim Scholars in Iraq (HEYET) whether inside or outside Iraq.

Dr.Ikrima Sabri was born in the town of Qalqilya in 1939 from a known family as the humble, religious and loving the science. Ikrima Sabri completed his secondary education at al Salahiyah School in the city of Nablus, where his father was a judge in the city, then joined to the University of Baghdad. Sheikh was graduated in 1963 where he obtained a BA in religion and Arabic language.

Sheikh Ikrima Sabri holds a doctorate (international) of Islamic Jurisprudence (Fiqh) from the College of Sharia and Law at Al-Azhar University in Egypt in 2001. 

Currently, Dr. Akrama Sabri works as the General Mufti of Jerusalem and the Palestinian territory from 1994 until 2006. Ikrima showed a distinctive presence through his work in the secondary education where he has emerged very important person to the role of the Holy Quran in Jerusalem and its environs. Sheikh Ikrima Sabri had a number of positions including Director of the preaching and guidance in the West Bank and Director of the Faculty of Islamic Sciences / Abu Dis and the general mufti of Jerusalem, the surroundings and Palestinian lands.

Sheikh Ikrama having very significant activity in the scientific and social events is the founder of the scholars and preachers in the Palestinian Territory in 1992 and its Chairman. He was the president of the Supreme Fatwa Council of Palestine and the preacher of Al-Aqsa mosque, a founder member of the Association of the World Muslim mosques in Makkah and member of the International Islamic Jurisprudence in Jeddah where he was elected president of the Islamic High Council in Jerusalem in 1997. Sheikh Ikrima Sabri has many books including notes in Hadiths three parts in addition to many other works.

Following is the text of the interview:

HEYET Net: the Iraqi scene after six years of occupation, how do you see it?

Sheikh Ikrima Sabri: Iraqi scene today is the scene of a bloody, turbulent and unstable scene.

HEYET Net: Do you believe that America is already involved in Iraq, or its army is still in control on the ground in Iraq?

Sheikh Ikrima Sabri: "Yes, America had already been involved in Iraq, trying to find a justification for the withdrawal, and the election of the President of the America from Democratic Party could be justification for the withdrawal.

HEYET Net: What is your assessment about the situation of our Palestinian brothers living in Iraq?

Sheikh Ikrima Sabri: The situation of the Palestinians after the fall of Saddam is the tragic situations that have been deprived of all privileges, which they had previously enjoyed. There were the displacement of a large number of them who came to Brazil, Chile and Venezuela

HEYET Net: What are the similarities between the Zionist occupation of Palestine and the U.S. occupation of Iraq?

Sheikh Ikrima Sabri: There are great similarities, probably there are identical of the occupation because the occupation of Palestine and Iraq is one.

HEYET Net: Do you think that the Zionist occupation is pervasive now in Iraq after the occupation in 2003?

Sheikh Ikrima Sabri: Yes, the Zionist occupation in Iraq is pervasive, and that is to be expected because "Israel" is the one states of the America.

HEYET Net: How can we understand the Zionist threats to demolish Al-Aqsa Mosque. Is it possible to identify this serious issue?

Sheikh Ikrima Sabri: The Zionist threats of Al-Aqsa Mosque is still valid and has dangerous proportions which can be seen in two tracks:

Track I: - In excavations below al Aqsa and its surroundings.

Track II: - the repeated incursions of the Jews and the extremists at the courtyards of the Al-Aqsa Mosque under the protection of the "Israeli" police, with an emphasis on the courtyards that are an integral part of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and its distance is 144 dunum that is "144 thousand square meters"

HEYET Net: Do you think that the Zionist entity will carry out the crime of destruction of the mosque or it is just a threat?

Sheikh Ikrima Sabri: "We put all the possibilities that the occupation can not be trusted, it behaves treacherously and lie, prevarication, and manipulation of the facts.

HEYET Net: What is the solution for the Palestinian cause with the haughty arrogant enemy that does not recognize the other?

Sheikh Ikrima Sabri: It is no doubt to end the "Israeli" occupation in Palestine. It is certainly not to the demise of good news from the Holy Qur'an in Surat Al-Isra.

HEYET Net: What about the rampant corruption in official institutions under the shadow of the occupation?

Sheikh Ikrima Sabri: Corruption is widespread and growing from all side.

HEYET Net: What is your assessment of the Arab role in Iraq and Palestine?

Sheikh Ikrima Sabri: The Arab role is the role of spectator.

HEYET Net: What is the exit of the current Iraqi crisis?

Sheikh Ikrima Sabri: to continue resistance against the U.S. occupation.

HEYET Net: What is your assessment of the performance of the political works of the Association of Muslim Scholars in Iraq (HEYET)?

Sheikh Ikrima Sabri: We appreciate the efforts of the Association of Muslim Scholars in Iraq (HEYET) whether inside or outside Iraq.

HEYET Net: What do you say to all of the Iraqi people and the Iraqi resistance?

Sheikh Ikrima Sabri: The unity and stability O you the heroic people of Iraq.

HEYET Net: Thank you and May Allah bless you and give you all goodness.

Sheikh Ikrima Sabri: Very thanks. Convey my best wishes to our brothers in beloved Iraq.

This interview was originally published at Arabic web page of HEYET Net and translated for the English section.  © 2009