ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Religious leaders like Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, Iraq’s top Shiite religious authority, should only play an advisory role and must not interfere in politics, a leading cleric said Saturday.
Speaking on Rudaw’s Rudawi Amro program this weekend, Sayid Salih al-Hakim, director of the al-Kalima Center for Dialogue and Cooperation, was responding to recent criticism of Sistani and his role in Iraq’s nationwide protests.
“Najaf and the marjayyiah (Shiite religious authority) believe that politics should not be mixed with religion, and clerics should not be politicians, as they should only advise and support the will of the people when they are in need of support,” Hakim said.
Since October 1, Iraq’s Shiite majority central and southern provinces have been rocked by mass protests against corruption, unemployment, and the lack of basic public services.
Following a violent crackdown by security forces and pro-Iran militias, the protesters have targeted the headquarters of Iraq’s Shiite political parties, militias, and the consulates of neighboring Iran, which they accuse of interfering in Iraqi affairs.
Although he rarely appears in public, Sistani has a profound influence over Iraq’s Shiite majority, government ministers, and even the country’s powerful militias.
As Iraq’s top Shiite cleric, protesters looked to Sistani to support their cause. Although he was initially lukewarm in his support, Sistani eventually called for Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi to resign.
Nevertheless, many of the young protesters, fed up with the Shiite political establishment, have now started questioning Sistani’s relevance and the religious agenda in politics.
“The marjayyiah in Iraq is only offering advice and is not interfering in decision making or politics,” Hakim said.
“If we look at the statements and sermons of Sistani since October 1, we see that all he has done is advise the government and the protesters, and he has always showed his support for the people.”
Protesters in Baghdad’s Tahrir Square told Rudaw English earlier this month they are frustrated with Sistani’s failure to get behind their movement.
For many of the young people protesting in the square, Sistani is part of the same Shiite religious establishment they have grown to detest.
More than 500 protesters and members of the security forces have been killed and around 17,000 wounded in clashes since October 1.
Security forces have fire military-grade tear gas canisters directly at protesters, which have caused catastrophic head injuries. Pro-Iran militiamen have also attacked the crows with knives and live ammunition.
Several activists have been kidnapped and murdered in an effort to intimidate the protesters.
The unrest took a worrying new turn this week when a young man accused of shooting at protesters was killed and strung up from a set of traffic lights in a central Baghdad square.
