In a statement published in the pan-Arab daily al-Hayat, Sheik Ali al-Najafi, son of the revered Grand Ayatollah Mohammed Bashir al-Najafi, issued a reminder that Mohammed forbids the killing of Muslims.

"Those who arouse sectarianism in Iraq violate the directions of the prophet and his orders with regard to cooperation and refraining from killing the Muslim or allowing for his blood, money or honor, which are behaviors that are remote from the spirit of Islam," he said.

He blamed the porous borders in the country and the fragile security situation in Iraq for fostering a climate of sectarian violence and ethnic division, noting Sunni and Shiite Iraqis had lived in peace for centuries.

Najafi blamed foreigners for bringing disunity to the country and called on the Iraqi government to reach a national reconciliation in order to bring advancements in political development.

He acknowledged there was no "magical remedy" for solving all the political, ethnic and sectarian differences, but urged the government to work toward a resolution that guaranteed the rights of all Iraqis.

"Islam does not accept the violation of anyone's rights, whether is a small or a big entity, minority or majority," he said.