During his speech at the opening ceremony of the conference, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said “the sectarian agitation will not be eliminated without the help and cooperation of religious intellectuals”, Al-Alam News Channel reported.

“The call for convergence has not been able to eradicate sectarian beliefs and confront its challenges,” he added.
 

Al-Maliki noted that “the fire of sedition among Muslims will not be put out without their unity.”
Pointing to the difficult situation with which the Islamic Ummah is faced, the Iraqi prime minister described the conference as a historical opportunity.

“The poison of sectarianism is distributed through satellite channels which are broadcast for the very same purpose,” al-Maliki stressed.
 

Al-Maliki warned that “one of the dangers of sectarianism is that it can transform into a terrorist network to serve the traders of war and benefits.”
 

Stating that some politicians take advantage of the sectarianism crisis, he went on to say that “sectarianism is progressing rapidly and is turning into an element of disintegration for countries.”
 

Emphasizing that Islam is the religion of forgiveness, love, and friendship, he noted “sectarian thinking has roots outside the country and it is not founded inside Iraq. The danger of terrorism and sectarianism is not less serious than the danger of occupation.”