Iraq: Al-Sistani Plans Pro-constitution Fatwa

[sabra]

http://www.adnki.com/index_2Level.php?cat=Politics&loid=8.0.211566428&par=0

IRAQ: AL-SISTANI PLANS PRO-CONSTITUTION FATWA


Baghdad, 23 Sept. (AKI) - Iraq's most influential Shiite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, is planning to issue a fatwa or religious edict ordering Shiites to approve the new draft constitution in a referendum next month, the New York Times reports. The American daily quoted an aide working in al-Sistani's office in Najaf, who said the senior cleric had told him he would issue the fatwa in the next few days. Al-Sistani's edicts encouraged many Shiites to take part in the January elections by telling them it was their religious duty to vote.

The fatwa could boost the chances of success of the 15 October referendum in which the Iraqi people are called on to approve the draft constitution. The document was thrashed out by a parliamentary commission in Baghdad amid serious differences between Iraq's various political, ethnic and religious groups. It states that Islam will be 'a main source of law'.

Sunni leaders and clerics have said they will boycott the referendum and various terrorist formations have threatened those who go to the polls.

For some time, al-Qaeda has called on Sunni Muslims to boycott the referendum to accept or reject the controversial document but this view has not been widely embraced by Iraq's Sunnis, who form roughly 20 percent of the population.

[NWHarkness]

1. Now, there's the Bush idea of democracy

Religious leaders ordering people how to vote.

[sabra]

2. what a...

democracy theocracy..

[Supersedeas]

6. visit rural Ohio on Sunday before election day...same concept

[Javaman]

3. Al-Sistani is a self serving prick...

He has been engineering this whole thing from the start. He has delusions of grander. He wants to be the next Ayatollah. He has no issues with a civil war because he knows that the Shi'ite out number the Sunni. In little steps and taking his que from Iran, he has been walking forward into exerting complete control over the southern region. And the dimwit iraqi gov't and the US gov't believe his line of bullshit about being "pro constitution". Of course he is, it gives him a huge amount of power.

This whole mess is so fucked up from every conceivable angle.

moron* supports a religious fundie Shi'ite to be the mouth piece of a "secular" constitution, who inturn, is trying to kill that actual secular people, the Sunni, who have no voice in the "constitution".

The world cluster fuck comes to mind.

colossal racist failure*.

[sabra]

4. Iran: "I shall call you minnie me"

[Kagemusha]

5. Technically he's a Grand Ayatollah and bigger than Khomeini was.

He just hasn't had, to date, an Iraq to match the Iran that Khomeini had.

That may change.

[Javaman]

9. You're right, he just didn't have the power to go with the title.

[htuttle]

7. Last I'd heard, Sadr was urging people NOT to vote for the Constitution

If they stay in disagreement, it will be interesting to see who pulls more votes.

[enigma000]

12. I don't think he's that bad

Granted Sistani is not a nice, effete European secularist in a same-sex relationship. But he's never called for an Iranian-style theocracy, doesn't have a private army of religious stormtroopers executing and harassing people, and has been constantly pleading for the Shiites not to respond to the outrageous provocations by Sunni supremacists.

The man deserves a Nobel Peace Prize.

[tainowarrior]

8. what's not to like about the Constitution

It's everything religious fundamentalist Shiites could want.

Screw the women. Screw equal rights for all Iraqs citizens. Long Live Islamic fundamentalism /sarcasm.

[Disturbed]

10. Should Sunnis boycott voting?

IMO I feel that they should vote.

[Roland99]

13. but...but...but...it says no legislation that contradicts democracy

It says so right below the line saying no legislation that contradicts Islam.





Whew...."I'm so dizzy, my head is spinnin'"

[ECH1969]

11. Al Sistani is not Supporting Any Bloc in the Elections

Ali Al Adeeb, a leader in the Islamic Da'wa party and an MP, confirmed that the Shiite reference Ayatollah Ali Al Sistani is not supporting any slates or identities in the coming elections.

After visiting Al Sistani in Al Najaf, he said to Al Hayat that the religious reference "does not have a preferable slate entering the coming elections, except for the extent of participation in serving the country, especially the poor and deprived." As regards the situation of the Shiite Coalition, with respect to the elections, Al Adeeb said that his bloc is currently holding "intensive meetings for establishing and stressing the unity of the coalition, in addition to attempting to add new elements to be the fundamental pivot during the coming elections."

http://www.almendhar.com/english_6384/news.aspx

[reprobate]

14. Anyone surprised that Al-Sistani supports the Sharia constitution?

Of course he supports the constitution. When it wins he will be THE religous leader of Iraq, the head Shiite, who was born in Iran, and likely will join with Iran in a fatwas against american occupation.

We all know everything is political, right?