Baghdad (AsiaNews) – A solemn appeal, launched from Mecca in the sacred month of Ramadan, signed by both Sunni and Shiite scholars to remind Muslims about the exhortation in the Koran not to spill Muslim blood. This is how the "Mecca document", approved yesterday in Islam's holy city, has been described. Around 50 religious leaders, mostly Iraqis, are seeking to stop carnage in Iraq through this document, which is set to be launched in all mosques of the world today, during Friday prayers.

The entire text of the document has not been made public yet. It was drawn up during a meeting promoted by the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) and has apparently been read and approved by the likes of Iraq's highest religious authority, Ayatollah Ali Al-Sistani, as well as the Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki and the religious "militant" Moqtada Al Sadr.

News sources said there are 10 points in the "Mecca Document". Among other things, it invites Muslims in Iraq to "national unity for the good of the country". The appeal came at the end of a meeting between religious scholars that took place in the royal palace of Mecca under the auspices of the 57-member Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), especially Saudi Arabia, wary of Shiite Iran, worried about the plight of Sunni Iraqis and fearful of the possible spread of terrorist attacks.

Mahdi Fathallah, the director of OIC's political affairs, said the meeting "is not a conference, a symposium, a debate, a discussion or a form of negotiation. It is simply a meeting of ulema from both communities. They have come together to underline the importance of unity and to help stop the spilling of Muslim blood." Fathallah appeared optimistic about the impact of the appeal: "For such a document to be issued from Mecca and in the blessed month of Ramadan in itself constitutes a wake-up call for Muslims. It would enlighten them on their duties vis-à-vis the sectarian conflict and remind all Muslims and especially Iraqis of Allah's law."

The meeting has been carefully followed, especially by the Iraqi press, and this is a sign of people's expectations in the effectiveness of the appeal, but the Saudi Arab News said that "analysts doubt if the accord will have any positive impact."