Ayatollah Sistani: Free Japanese Hostages

Sistani’s representative to Kuwait Ayatollah Muhammed Bagr al-Mohri said, "There is no place for terrorism and violence to women in Islam." Mohri condemned the chaos that Shiite Leader Muqteda al-Sadr, whose supporters have been fighting with US troops, had provoked in Iraq. The ‘Mujahet Brigade’, which is holding the hostages, had demanded that Japan withdraw its 530 soldiers from Iraq. After the statement of al-Mohri, al-Jazeera TV reported that the organization had decided to free the hostages in 24 hours. Reportedly the decision was made upon the request of a scholar of Islam.