PETITION FOR THE RESTORATION OF THE AL-ASKARI MUSJID (MOSQUE)

WE, the petitioners and signed, hereby call upon all Muslims, of all nations and all walks of life, to initiate and take part in the rebuilding and restoration of the Al-Askari Musjid in Samarra, Iraq, to engage in a peaceful end to the sectarian violence and establish religious, national and ethnic solidarity of the people as Muslims.

On the 22nd of February, 2006, at 6:55 local time, bombs destroyed the golden dome and severely damaged the musjid. This has been the centre cause of the current extreme degeneration in Iraq which includes sectarian violence and rifts within the Islamic community.

Regardless of sect, wether Sunni, Shiia, Druz, Sufi or Ahmadi, all musjids are sacred, as are all synagogues and churches and temples of other religions in other parts of the world. Any sort of violence against a house of God is forbidden, for it is an act against Islam, and of desecration and kafirism, and any believer attacking a believer or their own houses of worship shall receive punishment in this life and in the hereafter.

We the signees and the petitioners call upon philanthropists, construction workers, historians, religious scholars, ayatollahs and ordinary Muslims of all sects, sexes, races, and nationalities to restore the Al-Askari Musjid through the raising and donation of funds, materials and physical labour as well as emotional, psychological, spiritual and moral support. We call upon the Shiias and Sunnis of Iraq to raise and restore Mosques for each other rather than raise fists against one another, and to participate in the rebuilding of this holy site. We call upon the Ayatollah of Samarra and other mosques, cities and countries to bless this reconstruction and to help us with the restoration in the best way possible.

We call upon those responsible for the destruction and desecration to come forward and open themselves up and confess before God and humanity, and to seek forgiveness and make amends for the grievous sins they have committed.

Ameen.