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Coalition Provisional Authority
Baghdad, Iraq
PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Shane Wolfe
wolfes@orha.centcom.mil
1-914-822-4935
STATEMENT BY AMBASSADOR BREMER ON THIS OCCASION OF ARBA'EEN
Baghdad, Iraq...April 8, 2004 - Ambassador L. Paul Bremer III, Coalition
Provisional Authority (CPA) administrator, today issued the following statement
on this occasion of Arba'een:
"In light of the current unsettled security conditions in the South, and
especially in the Holy City of Najaf, we in the Coalition urge all parties to
exercise great vigilance and caution during the upcoming commemoration of
Arba'een.
Iraqis have been relieved of a dictator who as a matter of policy repressed
their rights to practice their faith. Now, individuals who seek to take power
through mob violence and by blocking Iraq's democratic path are also making it
unsafe for Iraqis to worship God.
We are fighting to restore law and order so that all Iraqis can enjoy their new
freedoms.
I call on all Iraqis to cooperate with the legitimate security authorities to
thwart those who seek to disrupt this holy commemoration.
I know that many Iraqis and pilgrims from other countries are worried about
whether they can perform their religious duty in peace and security, and some
governments have urged their citizens not to go. Each individual must judge the
issue for himself or herself with the counsel of their religious authorities.
For our part, we and the Iraqi authorities will do all we can with limited
capabilities to facilitate safety and security, but the pilgrims should make
their individual judgments knowing that the dangers this year are very real."
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