[lit-ideas] Re: Iranian hand in the Iraqi "uprising"
- From: Omar Kusturica <omarkusto@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Tue, 6 Apr 2004 00:17:41 -0700 (PDT)
The sole evidence offered for the "Iranian hand" is a
fatwa issued by an Iranian cleric, and not the top one
in the hierarchy, in April last year. Further, all
that it says of any substance is "to seize the first
possible opportunity to fill the power vacuum in the
administration of Iraqi cities." This would seem to
refer to peaceful means and I don't see anything
objectionable with the advise, or with the Iranians
giving it. (That the Shiite clerics communicate with
each other is hardly an extraordinary discovery.)
The article also incorrectly referes to fatwa as
"edict", and to Muktada Al-Sadr as a 'cleric,' which
he is not. (Though his father was and had great
influence.) I doubt that this will work to blame Iran
for an uprising caused by numerous US blanders, the
most recent one being the closing down of a newspaper,
about which I posted here.
O.K.
--- Scribe1865@xxxxxxx wrote:
> Anyone come across any other reporting on the
> Iranian backing of al-Sadr?
> [from
>
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=37881]
>
> Last April, an Iranian cleric, Kadhem al-Husseini
> al-Haeri, issued a
> religious edict and distributed to Shiite mullahs in
> Iraq, calling on them "to seize
> the first possible opportunity to fill the power
> vacuum in the administration
> of Iraqi cities."
> The edict, or fatwa, issued April 8, 2003, suggests
> that Shiite clerics in
> Iraq are receiving significant direction from Iran
> as they try to assert the
> power of Iraq's long-oppressed religious majority.
> The United States has warned Iran not to meddle in
> Iraqi affairs.
> The edict said that Shiite leaders have to "seize as
> many positions as
> possible to impose a fait accompli for any coming
> government." Using the familiar
> language Iranian clerics often apply to the United
> States, the fatwa urges the
> Shiite clergy to work against American influence
> among Shiites.
> "People have to be taught not to collapse morally
> before the means used by
> the Great Satan if it stays in Iraq," the fatwa
> reads. "It will try to spread
> moral decay, incite lust by allowing easy access to
> stimulating satellite
> channels and spread debauchery to weaken people's
> faith."
> The fatwa also instructs the cleric's followers to
> "raise people's awareness
> of the Great Satan's plans and of the means to abort
> them."
> The Shiites are by far the most significant group
> grabbing for power in
> central and southern Iraq both because of their
> dominant demographic position â??
> more than 60 percent of Iraq's people are Shiite
> Muslims â?? and because their
> religion gives them an authoritative system to build
> upon.
> On April 7, the day American troops effectively
> toppled Hussein's government
> by seizing its main seats of power in Baghdad,
> al-Haeri sent a handwritten
> letter to the city of Najaf, appointing Moktada
> al-Sadr as his deputy in Iraq.
> Haeri wrote: "We hereby inform you that Mr. Moktada
> al-Sadr is our deputy and
> representative in all fatwa affairs."
> It added: "His position is my position."
>
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