Sunnis, Sadr Followers Mobilize Against Iraq Charter

IslamOnline:Iraqi Sunnis, along with a major Shiite faction, began Monday, August 29, rallying followers against the hard-passed draft constitution, casting heavy doubts the document could make it through an October 15 referendum.

In a worrying sign for the government and its US backers, leaders of Sunni Arabs like imams and tribal chiefs were encouraging people to register for the referendum, reported Agence France-Presse (AFP).

"Everybody is registering to vote in the referendum -- this constitution is against Iraq as a united Arab Islamic nation," Sheikh Majed Jassim Al-Showah told AFP.

Another local tribal leader said the city's "imams are encouraging everybody to vote (in their sermons) at prayers every Friday."

But Sunnis are not alone. Shiite firebrand leader Moqtada Al-Sadr, only minutes after the draft was read in the National Assembly, made it clear he would give it the thumps-down.

"It is not the time for federalism under occupation. It will draw a lot of trouble," Abbas Rubie, political director of the Sadr group, was quoted as saying by the Christian Science Monitor. Read more