The Association of Muslim Scholars (Hayat Al-Ulama Al-Muslimin, sometimes called Association Of Muslim Clerics or Muslim Scholars Association), is a group of well-known Sunni religious leaders in Iraq, including Sheikh Harith Sulayman al-Dari (Chairman), Sheikh Abdel-Salam al-Kubaisi and Sheikh Abdel-Sattar Abdel-Jabbar. Other members include Dr Muhammad Bashar al-Faithi , Ahmed Abdul Ghafour al-Samarrai , Mahdi Ibrahim and Umar Raghib . It was formed after the collapse of Saddam Hussein's regime in Iraq by U.S. in 2003. It is composed of two branches, a Sunni Arab and Sunni Kurd division. They do not recognize the U.S. appointed government as legitimate, however they do not support armed struggle and condemn taking hostages. The group has negotiated the cease-fire for the city of Fallujah and the release of several hostages. They claim to have good relations with various Shia groups, including followers of Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani and radical cleric Moqtada al-Sadr.
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