Barzani calls clerics to eradicate extremist ideology in Kurdistan

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – During a conference held on Tuesday, the Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region asked clerics to eliminate extremist ideology and avoid politics while preaching in mosques.

The Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Nechirvan Barzani stated the government would monitor mosques in the Region and prevent clerics from mixing politics with religion while delivering sermons.

Barzani’s speech was given during a conference held by the Ministry of Endowment and Religious Affairs for the purpose of social peace and harmony.

He mentioned the KRG fully stood by the principles of Islam, but was “against the use of mosques as a tool or place to spread extremist ideology as well as politics and partisan [propaganda].”

Additionally, the PM noted the government would work to eradicate extremist ideology and promote social harmony and peace.

“It is the duty of the [KRG] to observe everything, especially mosques,” he continued. “No parties are allowed to use those mosques for their political parties’ agenda and interests.”

Moreover, Barzani said such type of clerics would divide society and mix politics with religion.

“People in mosques should be encouraged for tolerance and social peace, not to make them part of the political tensions between the parties,” he added.

The Kurdistan Region is currently suffering from a political and economic crisis.

The Region also shares a long border with the so-called Islamic State (IS) in northern Iraq.

Iraqi and Kurdish forces have already begun the military operation to liberate Mosul from the extremist group, the second-largest city in Iraq that IS has occupied since June 2014.

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany