Beheading 'slur on Islam'

2004-06-25 20:05

Kufa - Iraqi Shiite leader Moqtada Sadr on Friday denounced the beheading of American hostage Paul Johnson by Islamists in Saudi Arabia, saying the execution had cast a slur on Islam's reputation.

However, he also blamed the "wrong policy" of US President George W Bush for the execution, which brought condemnation from around the world after pictures of Johnson's corpse were posted on Islamist websites.

"The beheading of an American hostage happened as a result of the wrong policy of the United States," Sheikh Jabir al-Khafaji said on Sadr's behalf during the weekly Friday sermon, apparently referring to Johnson.

"As to the kidnappers, I say you were so hasty in beheading the captive. It would have been better to postpone the execution.

"By beheading the hostage you inflicted harm on Islam's reputation and caused troubles for Muslims living abroad.

"Anyhow, we denounce that ugly picture regardless of it being done against the Americans or those who committed the crime."

Sadr's militia waged a fierce rebellion against US-led forces around this holy city about 100km south of Baghdad for two months before agreeing to a truce the first week of June.

- AFP