Thread by @DrAbbasKadhim

Grand Ayatollah Sistani’s statement read at the Friday Prayer in Karbala:

“Supporting the protests and calling to maintain their peaceful nature. Condemning aggression against protesters by killing, wounding, kidnaping, or frightening.” (1)

Grand Ayatollah Sistani’s statement read at the Friday Prayer in Karbala:

“Also condemning attacks on security forces and govt property, & calling to hold the doers accountable w/out leniency, these (attacks on protesters or sec. forces) are prohibited by religion & law.” (2)

Grand Ayatollah Sistani’s statement read at the Friday Prayer in #Karbala, #Iraq:

“Non-tyrannical govts. derive their legitimacy from the people, by fair & honest elections. Therefore, it is important to move fast on passing a fair electoral law.” (3)

Grand Ayatollah Sistani’s statement read at the Friday Prayer in Karbala, #Iraq:

“There is also a need to pass a new law for the elections commission to ensure its professionalism, neutrality, & acceptability. (4)

Grand Ayatollah Sistani’s statement read at the Friday Prayer in Karbala, #Iraq:

“Despite the passage of long time since the start of the protests & the heavy sacrifices in blood & lives, there is no evidence of any significant steps toward reform to meet their demands.” (5)

Grand Ayatollah Sistani’s statement read at the Friday Prayer in Karbala, #Iraq:

“Citizens have gone to the streets asking for reform in this unprecedented way, for so long, with such sacrifices, because they fou d no other means to be saved from ever-increasing corruption. (6)

Grand Ayatollah Sistani’s statement read at the Friday Prayer in Karbala, #Iraq:

“Corruption & ruin are rampant at all levels, with the consensus of ruling powers of all (ethno-sectarian) components to turn the homeland into spoils they divide among themselves.” (7)

Grand Ayatollah #Sistani’s statement read at the Friday Prayer in Karbala, #Iraq:

“Ruling powers (in Iraq) are looking the other way about each other’s corruption, until the situation has become unbearable. Citizens are no longer able to get the minimum of dignified living.” (8)

Grand Ayatollah #Sistani’s statement read at the Friday Prayer in Karbala, #Iraq:

“If those in power believe they can evade due reform by stonewalling, they are dreaming. The era after the #IraqProtests & what preceded them are not the same. They should pay attention!” (9)

Grand Ayatollah Sistani’s statement read at the Friday Prayer in Karbala, #Iraq:

“The reform battle, led by the honorable Iraqi people, is a patriotic battle that concerns the Iraqis alone & they’re bearing its heavy burdens. No external entity can be allowed to interfere.” (10)