Latest news with #Alial-Sistani
Shafaq News
3 days ago
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Iraqi PMF leaders urge neutrality as election tensions rise
Shafaq News/ As Iraq prepares for its parliamentary elections on November 11, tensions are mounting within the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), with senior leaders urging fighters to remain neutral and resist political pressures. On Saturday, Hamid al-Yasiri, commander of the PMF's 'Ansar al-Marjaiya' brigade, called on all PMF members to avoid involvement in electoral rivalries and to maintain loyalty to the religious fatwa* of Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani. 'We hear of ongoing conflicts and defamation campaigns within the PMF ranks,' al-Yasiri said. 'You are followers of the fatwa—your commitment lies with it alone, not with any political party." Al-Yasiri warned that political entanglement would undermine the PMF's credibility and diminish the respect earned through sacrifices on the battlefield. 'You are not brokers for electoral blocs, and you must not yield to any political pressure, regardless of the consequences,' he addressed PMF fighters. 'If you engage in political conflicts, you will lose your status in the eyes of the people.' His remarks come amid concerns over the PMF's role in the electoral process. Under Iraqi Election Law, security forces—including the PMF—cast their ballots one to two days before the general public vote to ensure election-day security. This early voting system has historically raised questions about the potential politicization of these forces. Meanwhile, the PMF's official leadership also weighed in on the electoral climate. In a statement issued Friday, the PMF condemned recent claims by a political figure alleging that some tribal units within the forces lack proper registration and include wanted individuals. The statement dismissed these allegations as 'baseless and sectarian,' affirming that all PMF units, including tribal formations, have fully documented records with the PMF's central intelligence and security directorates. The leadership cautioned that such rhetoric threatens to inflame divisions at a time when national unity is crucial. 'These are attempts to exploit the PMF's contributions for political gain,' it said, urging political actors to uphold the integrity of the PMF and respect its national mission. Iraq's upcoming election—its first in four years—will see nearly 29 million Iraqis eligible to vote, following the cabinet's decision in April to set the date for November 11. *A fatwa is an official legal opinion or interpretation issued by a qualified Islamic scholar (called a mufti) in response to a question about Islamic law (sharia). A fatwa is not legally binding in most contexts—it's a religious guideline or ruling on how to behave per Islamic principles. A fatwa might clarify how to perform religious duties, provide guidance on social or political issues, or settle disputes within a community. In Iraq, the famous 2014 fatwa by Al-Sistani, calling on Iraqis to join the fight against ISIS, was a key factor in the PMF formation.
Shafaq News
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Iraqis hold memorial mass in Baghdad for late Pope Francis
Shafaq News/ Tearful prayers filled the air as Iraqi Christians gathered on Friday at Mar Yousif Chaldean Church in Baghdad to hold a memorial mass for the late Pope Francis. Priests, nuns, and worshippers assembled at the church in the Karrada district, where hymns were sung and prayers offered for the Pope's soul in a solemn and emotional ceremony, Shafaq News correspondent reported, adding that a portrait of the late pontiff was placed at the altar alongside the Iraqi flag, symbolizing his historic ties with the country. Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21 after months of health complications, made a landmark visit to Iraq in March 2021 —the first by any pontiff to the country. During his trip, he met with Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani in Najaf, visited Baghdad, Mosul, and Erbil, and celebrated an open-air mass attended by thousands. Iraqi and Kurdish leaders, including Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani, mourned Pope Francis as a symbol of peace. Delegations from Iraq and the Kurdistan Region are set to participate in the official farewell ceremony in Rome.
Shafaq News
21-04-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Ayatollah al-Sistani mourns Pope Francis: A MAN OF PEACE
Shafaq News/ On Monday, Iraq's top Shiite cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani expressed condolences over the death of Pope Francis. 'We received with deep sorrow the news of the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis,' al-Sistani's office stated, adding that the Pope was widely revered for promoting tolerance and supporting the oppressed. Sistani recalled his meeting with Pope Francis in Najaf in 2021, calling it a 'key moment' in affirming shared religious values and the need to counter global challenges through moral principles and interfaith cooperation. The statement said both men stressed the importance of peaceful coexistence, rejecting violence, and fostering mutual respect between different faiths and beliefs. Al-Sistani offered condolences to Catholics worldwide and prayed for 'God's mercy, blessings, and peace upon all humanity.'
Shafaq News
13-04-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Harakat al-Nujaba in Iran: US pressures Iraq to marginalize PMF
Shafaq News/ The United States is pressuring the Iraqi government to sideline the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), a senior representative of Harakat al-Nujaba said on Sunday, portraying the group as a vital component of Iraq's national defence. Speaking to Iran's Mehr News Agency, Abbas al-Mousawi, the movement's representative in Iran, affirmed that the PMF 'has always been and remains an inseparable part of Iraq's armed forces.' He underlined that it is 'a formal and independent institution'' operating under the authority of the Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, noting that recent potential legal amendments to the group's law would grant it limited autonomy while keeping it under the premier's supervision rather than placing it under army command. Established in 2014 following a fatwa by Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani urging Iraqis to resist the Islamic State (ISIS), the group mobilized thousands of volunteers, predominantly from Shiite factions. PMF fighters played a decisive role in halting the extremist group's advance after it captured four provinces in the north and northwest and threatened Baghdad. 'The Popular Mobilization was built by passionate Iraqi youth and has become a pillar of popular resistance,' al-Mousawi remarked. 'This is precisely why the United States continues to apply significant pressure on the Iraqi government to marginalize it.' Recently, several regional media outlets have circulated claims suggesting plans to dissolve the PMF, allegations repeatedly denied by Iraqi officials. The head of the formation, along with other officials, has rejected any notion of disbandment, stressing that it continues to play an essential role in safeguarding Iraq's sovereignty and supporting the broader security structure.
Shafaq News
30-03-2025
- General
- Shafaq News
Ayatollah al-Sistani declares Monday as Eid al-Fitr
Shafaq News/ Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, the top Shiite religious authority, has announced that Monday will mark the first day of Eid al-Fitr, following the confirmed sighting of the Shawwal crescent moon. Al-Sistani's office had previously anticipated that Eid would fall on Monday, March 31. The office had earlier set the beginning of Ramadan on Sunday, March 2, predicting that the fasting month would conclude on March 30, lasting 29 days instead of the full 30, as indicated in the published prayer timetable. The Kurdistan Region's Ministry of Endowments declared Sunday as Eid al-Fitr. The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) announced a public holiday from March 29 to April 5. Meanwhile, Iraq's Sunni Endowment stated that Ramadan will be completed as a full 30-day month, making Monday, March 31, the first day of Eid.
