The government of Iraq targets political and religious dissidents with arbitrary arrest, torture and frivolous legal charges as a means of keeping order. Arguably the most prominent political and religious activist that has refused to succumb to Baghdad is Grand Ayatollah Mahmud al-Hasani al-Sarkhi. The youngest ever Grand Ayatollah, dubbed by many as the “Reformer Cleric”, is a staunch opponent of former Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki and Iran’s influence over Baghdad. On multiple occasions since 2006, the Iraqi government has harassed, detained, tortured and killed al-Sarkhi’s supporters for refusing to blindly support mainstream Shiite clerics that are aligned with Tehran. The Iraqi government has targeted al-Sarkhi’s offices, supporters and personal property.
Tehran’s Cronies: Dubious Claims Against al-Sarkhi
The Iraqi government has worked tirelessly to discredit al-Sarkhi with unsubstantiated and baseless claims about his beliefs and actions. Baghdad has accused al-Sarkhi supporters of plotting the assassination of religious figures and planning to takeover religious shrines. To stem the growth of al-Sarkhi’s popular movement, his opponents have created fairy tales about his political and religious ideologies. Individuals have narrated accounts of al-Sarkhi claiming to be the revered Mehdi (Shiite Islam’s twelfth and final imam who according to Shiite beliefs is in occultation) while others have humorously claimed that al-Sarkhi talked of “sharing tea” with the Mehdi. His adversaries, seeking to undermine his popular liberal political ideologies, label him as an adherent of the Waliyat al-Faqih, the guardianship-based political system that serves as the basis for theocratic rule in Iran. One of the sharpest claims against al-Sarkhi is that he employs tens of heavily armed “foreign mercenaries.” Al-Sakrhi unequivocally and categorically refutes all of the claims of his political adversaries. Al-Sarkhi is opposed to all forms of political and sectarian violence, foreign hegemony and theocratic rule.
Al-Sarkhi: Supporting Change in Iraq
In a dramatic turn of events, al-Sarkhi took part in the peaceful protests that were staged in Western Iraq in defiance of the policies of Nouri al-Maliki. Al-Sarkhi has called on Iraqis to reject number of principles that encourage religious and political sedition. Al-Sarkhi supports the development of vibrant political, social, educational and economic institutions. The backbone of Al-Sarkhi’s message is transparency and rejecting the backwards ways that have transformed Iraq into the 8th most corrupt country in the world.
Al-Sarkhi’s Message to the World: Monitor our Elections
Al-Sarkhi has invited UN observers to oversee the election of a non-aligned technocratic leader as part of a plan to form a national salvation government. Al-Sarkhi advocates the formation of a multi-sect and multi-ethnic Iraqi government to abolish the polarizing confessional political order that has torn Iraq’s rich social fabric to shreds. Al-Sakrhi has called for peaceful coexistence in an environment of constructive dialogue and understanding. The current Iraqi constitution merely recognizes three religious and ethnicities but al-Sarkhi envisions an all-inclusive society that empowers even minority sects such as Yazidis, Christians and Jews. Al-Sarkhi’s message embraces hundreds of years of religious coexistence between tens of religious denominations and ethnicities.
Al-Sarkhi to Al-Sistani and all Iraqis: No to Sectarianism, no to Militias
Grand Ayatollah Sistani has convinced Iraqis and the international community that his reclusiveness is an indication of his desire to steer clear from politics. Sistani’s assessment contradicts reports that he issued fatwas (religious rulings/edicts) in support of George W. Bush’s invasion in exchange for hefty bribes amounting to $200 million. Iraqis argue that the Bush invasion could not have been launched without the approval of Iraq’s most influential cleric. After Mosul fell to Sunni Arab tribes and ISIS, Sistani issued a fiery fatwa which specifically targeted the Sunni sect. [..] “So the responsibility to face them and fight them is the responsibility of all, not one sect or one party. The responsibility now is saving Iraq, saving our country, saving the holy places of Iraq from these sects. “Al-Sarkhi labeled Sistani’s remarks as inflammatory and counterproductive in the efforts to unite Shiites and Sunnis against fundamentalists. “These actions are the actions of militias and the result of my rejection of partition and sectarianism that has killed the people of Iraq. Their action is evidence of their failure and lack of steadfastness towards patriotic action.”
Al-Sarkhi’s bold comments resulted in the lynching of at least 50 his supporters in Karbala by security forces acting at the behest of Karbala’s governor. Al-Sarkhi has drawn a fine line between the moderate Sunni tribal fighters that revolted against the sectarian policies of Nouri Al-Maliki and the terrorist ISIS forces that exploited climate of chaos and lawlessness in the Western and Central provinces. Al-Sarkhi vehemently opposes both Shiite and Sunni militias that seek Iraq’s division. Al-Sarkhi’s message for Iraq is clear: reject hate and embrace unity, coexistence, modesty and Iraqi Arabism.
أقرب طريق
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العراق
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اهتمامي وحبي للتدوين هو ما جعلني أستمر ليس فقط لتقديم المواضيع بل أيضا لمساعدة الأشخاص المبتدئين ، كما كنت سابقا إلا أني لم أجد من يساعدني ! مع ذلك كافحت وواضبت على ماأحبه من عمل لأصل إلى ما أريده ، ليس كمستقبل لكن كهدف حققته
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اهتماماتي للتدوين جعلني أتحدى العمل ، للأكواد ، والتعديل عليها وتكويدهالتخرج بالأشكال المناسبه .
Very cool
ردحذفAn excellent person and intelligent
ردحذفPersonal deserves respect
ردحذف