The Religious Authority, Sayyed Muhammad Hussein Fadlullah, released a statement in which he condemned the barbaric bombing of Al-Askariyayn (a.s.) shrine in Samarra. H.E. said:

Studying the last attack of Al-Askariyayn shrine in Samarra, we notice that the occupation covered the parties that committed the aggression in a bid to plunge Iraq into a new sectarian strife in a barbaric and complicated manner.

We notice also that the American occupation is covering again these Takfiri groups and intelligence agents to give them a chance to repeat their criminal aggression against the Shrine of Al-Imamain Al-Askariyayn (a.s.). That is because the occupation wants to burn Iraq with the fire of sectarian strife. Hence, the intelligence agents that are directed by the occupation, are paving the way for retaliation in a blind and intense manner that is believed to serve the American project that aims at staying long in Iraq, especially that America is planning to establish major military bases on the Iraqi territories. Besides, the American Defense Minister has announced that the US intends to stay for a long time in Iraq.

Consequently, we urge all the Iraqis to be wary of this wicked plan and not to be plunged into its mazes. We also call upon all Muslims in Iraq, especially the Shiite Muslims, not to commit any negative reactions because that would represent a treachery for Islam and the nation's causes. It would also represent falling in the occupation's trap, since the occupation is still working on executing its plan through the security chaos that produces a blind strife that ruins all Iraq and that would be spread in the entire region.

The religious authorities in Al-Najaf Al-Ashraf, along with the rational Sunni religious authorities, have worked on besieging this strife and preventing it from extending. Thus, we want these religious authorities to persevere and continue to protect the Islamic reality in Iraq; especially that Al-Askariyayn shrine embraces the two Islamic personalities whom all Muslims sanctify. Therefore, all Muslims should defend the big Islamic cause that is represented by the movement and life of those two Holy Imams (a.s.).

I urge all the Shiite and Sunni religious authorities in the Islamic world to condemn this barbaric crime and to launch effective movements to avoid any negative consequences, and to work on eliminating the Takfiri groups and unveiling their plans and projects that are in conformity with the plans and projects of the occupation and that contradict the nation's interests and causes.