Sunni leaders criticise Iraqi government for closure of mosque

Sunni protesters in Iraq say they are being marginalised by the government Sunni leaders in Baghdad have criticised the government for the closure of a prominent Sunni mosque, but say they will not chant sectarian slogans nor join demonstrations in the Iraqi capital. Security forces blocked traffic on roads leading to the Abu Hanifa mosque in northern Baghdad last Friday, forcing the Imam to cancel prayers.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Sunni clerics attacked the government for targeting the mosque, but also rejected calls from some sections of the Sunni community to participate in anti-government demonstrations in Baghdad. They urged Sunni Muslims in western Baghdad to drop sectarian chanting and make peace with their Shiite neighbours.
The leaders called on the government to respond to the legal demands from the demonstrators, and warned that the situation would get out of hand if authorities did not take action. They also rejected claims from government officials that the protesters are affiliated with extremist organisation al-Qaeda.
The predominantly Sunni governorates, in north and west Iraq, have witnessed demonstrations in opposition to policies adopted by the Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki since December. The activists are calling for the release of female prisoners and the annulment of the country's new justice and terrorism laws. Sunni protesters also feel the Shiite-led Iraqi establishment is marginalising and excluding Sunni opponents, and are demanding a better balance within state institutions.
Speaking last Friday at an event marking International Women's Day, the Iraqi prime minister described demonstrators' demands as "illegal," and urged his opponents to oppose him politically, not through violence. Al-Maliki also accused demonstrators of having links to al-Qaeda and the Baath Party.