Iraqi PM Maliki urges for respect of Islam

The Iraqi Prime Minister, Nouri al Maliki, stressed the importance of understanding and respecting Muslim’s sanctities around the world and that defending each other’s religion was a duty of all mankind. In his speech during the conference of the Hajj and Umrah for Mentors and Guides, held in Najaf on Thursday, Maliki said: “One of the issues being reported over and over again is the negative targeting of Muslims, the Prophet and the Islamic message by abusive films and cartoons.” The Iraqi Premier pointed out that defending the religion may unite Muslims and invited the whole world to “defend and respect the Islamic sanctities.” Maliki added: “Currently, the region is going through a serious wave of challenges. Their real origin is sectarian, and the amount of money spent on it is a threat to all Muslims.”