Grand Ayatollah Sistani Condemns

Grand Ayatollah Sistani Condemns Israel

The Arabic original of Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani’s fatwa condemning the Israeli attack on Lebanon is here.

Someone sent me an English translation by email. I think the fatwa should be read as a sign that Sistani is extremely anxious that the Lebanon war will send Shiite Iraq spinning out of control and lead to a major confrontation between Iraqi Shiites and the US and British troops.

Statement from His Eminence Sayyid Sistani (long may he live) on the events in Lebanon

In The Name of Allah The Compassionate, The Merciful

For several days Lebanon has been exposed to a continuous Israeli aggression, targeting its defiant people and its infrastructure on a wide scale. This has led to hundreds of people being martyred and wounded and tens of thousands of people being displaced as well as vast destruction to houses, roads and other civilian establishments.

All this blatant repression is occurring under the persistent disregard of the whole world – except for a few ineffective words of condemnation and disapproval here and there. The world community needs to move on to stop the continuation of this flagrant aggression. The Muslim nation also needs to stand by in solidarity with the oppressed Lebanese people and aim to ensure the humanitarian requirements of the wounded and the displaced and others are met. The representatives of the religious Marja’iyyah in Lebanon and Momineen in general must implement the aforesaid with all the means they receive.

The oppressions suffered by the nations of the region, among them the Lebanese, will increase the nations’ anger and rage towards the international policies supporting and/or condoning such actions – which will naturally intensify the tension and hinder peace and security throughout the region.

May Allah protect Lebanon and its dear people and have mercy on its martyrs and grant the wounded a speedy recovery and good health.

The Office of H. E. Sayyid Sistani (long may he live) Najaf, 20 Jumada al-Akhar 1427 [16] July 2006