HOLY NAJAF, Iraq: Marking the first anniversary of Samarra Tragedy on Moharram 23, Maraje, Ayaat, leaders and organizations while strongly denouncing the heinous crime committed against Al-Imamain Al-Askariyain (AS), demanded from the Iraqi government to take solid steps fro immediate reconstruction of the holy shrine and safety of roads to Samarra for mo’minin who desire visitation to the holy mausoleums.

Maraje, Ayaat, leaders and organizations are: Ayatullah Sayyed Ali As-Sistani (Iraq), Ayatullah Sheikh Ishaq Fayad (Iraq), Ayatullah Sayyed Muhammad Said Al-Hakim (Iraq), Ayatullah Hafiz Bashir An-Najafi (Iraq), Ayatullah Sheikh Yacoubi (Iraq), Ayatullah Sayyed Sadeq Ash-Shirazi (Iran), Ayatullah Sayyed Taqi Al-Modarresi (Iraq), Ayatullah Sheikh Hussein Ali Al-Montadhari (Iran), Ayatullah Fadhil Lankarani (Iran), Qaed-i-Millat-i-Jafariya Agha Sayyed Hamid Moosavi (Pakistan), Sayyed Abdel Aziz Al-Hakim (Iraq), Ahlul Beit Association (Bahrain), Al-Amal Al-Islami Association (Bahrain), Ar-Resalah Al-Islamia Association (Bahrain), Mukhtar Students Organization (Pakistan) and Shia defense organization (USA).

"We call on Muslims who commemorate this sad anniversary to exercise strict discipline and not voice hatred or commit evil acts against our Sunni brothers because they are innocent of this crime," Ayatullah Sistani said. "I ask the Iraqi government to expedite reconstruction of the Samarra mausoleums and through that to establish national unity among all Iraqis."