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Showing posts from July 25, 2010

Restive Iraqi province to censor clerics

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Source: middle east online First Published 2010-07-28 Sermons would be monitored by Iraqi security forces Iraqi Diyala authorities introduce controversial rules to curb anti-US military sermons. By Ali Mohammed – DIYALA, Iraq Clerics in Diyala have been warned they can go to jail for delivering sermons that incite violence, a move aimed at calming the troubled Iraqi province – although some fear it may heighten sectarian tensions. The crackdown on rabble-rousing preachers has been initiated by the province’s government and is backed by mainstream religious and political leaders from both the main Muslim sects. However, the new rules have been criticised by some Sunni Arabs, who say they fear their community will be targeted unfairly. Despite improvements in security, Sunni insurgents and Shia militias remain active in Diyala, a province bordering Iran, north-east of Baghdad. The new restrictions on sermons do not specifically state which phrases would be regarded as