A remarkable man
From the Kuwait news agency in a report of events that apparently took place last Tuesday:
Leading Shiite cleric in Iraq Ali Sistani Tuesday banned the killing of Iraqis, particularly the Sunnis, and urged the Shiites to protect their brother Sunnis. Sistani bans the Iraqi blood in general the blood of Sunnis in particular.
His announcement came during a meeting with a delegation from Sunni clerics from southern and northern Iraq. The clerics are visiting Najaf to participate in the first national conference for Ulemaa of Shiites and Sunnis.
Sistani called on the Shiites to protect their Sunni brothers, according to Sheikh Khaled Al-Mulla, head of the authority of Ulemaa of Southern Iraq, noting that the Fatwa of Sistani would have positive impacts nationwide.
“I am a servant of all Iraqis, there is no difference between a Sunni, a Shiite or a Kurd or a Christian,” Al-Mulla quoted Sistani as saying during the meeting. Sistani warned the Sunni clerics from the plans of the enemies to plant seeds of discord among the Iraqis. The visiting delegation voiced relief for the meeting and said they backed Sistani’s stance.
“I am a servant of all Iraqis, there is no difference between a Sunni, a Shiite or a Kurd or a Christian.” Remarkable. We recall Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani’s similar efforts at the Mecca conference last year. And of course there has been much progress over the last year, for which the surge has only been a partial cause and catalyst.
You’d think these words of Sistani, the most important religious figure in a country where religion suffuses everyday life, would have reached us sooner than nearly a week after the fact. Yet the MSM have been virtually silent on the matter. It is surprising, and then again it is not at all surprising, that we have heard so little of these efforts or these words of Sistani. HT: Larwyn
December 2nd, 2007 at 7:35 pm
History will look very kindly on Sistani. One of my fears has been that he’ll die before things really get settled, because he’s been the primary moderating force that’s prevented the whole thing from going up in flames.
Just as long as he lives another 12 months. Then we’ll be fine, I think.
December 3rd, 2007 at 3:49 am
Once again the MSM ill serves the population. They have lost any claim to being a “fourth estate.” These days, they act more like squatters than estate holders.