This is an entry from: Live Blog: The struggle for Iraq
Union of Muslim Scholars slams 'sectarian fatwa edicts'
14 June 2014 15:31 BST
The Doha-based International Union of Muslim Scholars has warned that statements urging Shiites to take up arms could lead to "devastating sectarian war", after Shiite Ayatollah al-Sistani on Friday urged his followers to take up arms in the struggle.
In a statement released on Friday the union, headed by prominent scholar Yusuf al-Qaradawi, described recent developments in Iraq as the "result of oppression and exclusion of people that wanted freedom."
The union called on Shiites to "stand by their Sunni brothers" and work towards a viable solution.