Al Bayyna, the newspaper published by Iraqi Hezbollah, carried an editorial Wednesday titled "Violence ... a behavior or a character?" that argues that economic, political and psychological factors contributed to development of violence.

The editorial said that human beings, though spontaneous in nature, are at heart peaceful. It quoted a religious figure, Imam Shirazi, who said that human beings are naturally peaceful yet this nature tends to be reconciling and changeable.

"The message of Islam is strong on peace, brotherhood and reasoning. … Wars and conflicts are exceptions to the religious view and are motivated by various circumstances," it said.

When poverty is added to ignorance, it turns into a disease that affects all aspects of society and leads people to do what they must in order to gain the means to live, without realizing what is wrong or right, the editorial said.

"People use religion today as a reason to attain victories which could lead to conflicts … resulting in the loss of life, regardless of the fact that religion calls for tolerance and life rebuilding," it added.

The editorial also said that violence by employees, students and on the streets is a daily occurrence, with robberies, theft and even murder.

"Violence could turn to a social catastrophe that affects life, like an infectious disease that requires treatment and use of whatever it takes to get rid of it and prevent the society from catching it," the editorial said.

The Basra-based newspaper said that the primary cause of violence and the one requiring the most urgent treatment is the political situation; the economic sources of violence need to be treated secondly; and, last but not least, educational treatment is required.

The paper said that education in non-violent ways to resolve conflicts takes no more than following religious edicts that call for tolerance and forgiveness. These edicts are supported by the traditional social mentality, which is characterized by good behavior and civilized ways of dealing with disputes.

"There is always a third party that benefits from any conflict between two people or two parties, because the third party would be waiting for the weakening and destruction of the two conflicting groups," it said.

Al Bayyna concluded that in conflicts, the strongest tops the stronger, meaning that hatred and a cycle of revenge will be created, leading to social devastation; the most dangerous result for human beings.