Ayatollah al-Haeri’s resignation from the marja’iya is not only a rare event, it is ill-timed & extremely dangerous.
Al-Haeri knows the consequences of his announcement to #Iraq. Otherwise, he is right to question his own fitness to remain as a marja’. (1) To be sure, there is no reasonable urgent cause to make such an inflammatory announcement at this critical time. A second-tier marja’ like al-Haeri (84 years old), with no serious impediment to his daily life functions could wait for a calm time to make this move. (2)

Good to see @sarahsavant1 translate this text.
During the Abbasid era (particularly 8th - 10th centuries), an exquisite literary genre appeared mainly in #Iraq — a form of Arab-Persian polemics called Shu’oubiya. (1)

https://twitter.com/libraryarablit/status/1377241790110121990

Trying to justify their political & military dominance over many non-Arab peoples & territories, some Arab authors & literary figures (as well as some non-Arab sycophants), such as al-Jahiz & ibn Qutaibah, wrote elaborate works in support of claims of Arab “excellence”. (2)

Readout from the meeting between @Pontifex and Grand Ayatollah #Sistani:

“Grand Ayatollah Sistani thanked the Pope for taking the hardship of the trip to Najaf to visit him and wished him & the world’s Catholics happiness, blessings & prosperity.” (1)

#PopeFrancisInIraq Readout from the meeting between @Pontifex and Grand Ayatollah #Sistani:

“G. ayatollah Sistani emphasized the importance of securing a peaceful & secure life for Iraqi Christians and protecting their constitutional rights, explaining the measures he took for this purpose.” (2)

Today is Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani’s 90th birthday.
He ascended to the position of “al-Marja’ al-A’la” after his teacher Grand Ayatollah Abol’Qasim al-Khoei passed away in 1992.
Sayid Sistani was born in Mashhad (#Iran). In 1952, he arrived in Najaf (#Iraq). (1) In Najaf, Sayid Sistani studied for 10 years with two of the most prominent scholars in Najaf, Grand Ayatollah al-Khoei and Grand Ayatollah Husayn al-Hilli. Also attended teachings of G.A. Sayid Mohsin al-Hakim. (2)

#Iraq, Today's Statement of Grand Ayatollah #Sistani, from Friday Prayer:

"In times of crisis, the need to unity & setting internal disputes aside intensifies. Disputants must give up, even if partly, their personal & factional interests for the sake of collective good." (1) #Iraq, Today's Statement of Grand Ayatollah #Sistani, from Friday Prayer:

"Cooperation by competition by disputants, each of whom possesses part of the power, & attempts to imposes their respective views will help exacerbate the crisis & prevent its solution." (2)

Thread:

The best solution to #Iraq's problems is to support the Iraqi state to be fully sovereign & independent, and to prevent the influence of its neighbors, whether it is direct influence of by proxies. A weak Iraq cannot be helpful for the region or for the world. (1)

https://twitter.com/DrAbbasKadhim/status/1214407785955368961

A strong #Iraq means foremost:

1. strong and functional democratic institutions.
2. credible measures of the rule of law.
3. respect of human rights & international law.
4. elimination of corruption.
5. state control of the use of force.

continued... (2)

#Iraq: Abu Mahdi al-Mihandis, 2nd man in the Popular Mobilization Forces & Gen. Qasim Soleimani, Commabder of Iran’s Quds Force, were killed in a US military operation.

This took the recent US-Iran conflict to another level, putting Iraq in the heart of the fight. (1) #Iraq’s national leaders hoped to avoid having their country being theater of US-Iran conflict.

Three reactions to watch for in the next few hours:
Iraqi PM Adil Abd al-Mahdi, Muqtada al-Sadr, Sistani’s Friday message in the coming few hours, & of course Iran’s statement. (2)

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 Office statement, read in today’s Friday Prayer:

“Recalling the 1st. group of loved ones whose blood was shed in the start of this reform movement 40d ago, calling again to bring the killers to justice, offering our condolences to their families.” (1) Grand Ayatollah #Sistani’s Office statement, read in today’s Friday Prayer:

“Political powers holding authority now have a unique chance to heed citizens’ demands according to a mutually-accepted roadmap, to be implemented in a set timeframe, to end a long corruption era. (2)

نتيجة لتفاعل الأصدقاء (والخصوم) مع هذا المنشور، أجد من الواجب أن أتطرق بالتفصيل لملابسات مسألة التصويت الذي لم يكسب العراق من خلاله تجديد عضويته في مجلس حقوق الإنسان. أرجو أن تكون التغريدات التالية مفيدة للمهتمين بحقيقة الأمور. (١)

https://twitter.com/drabbaskadhim/status/1185325342732496898

بدءاً أشير إلى الأساسيات: يوجد ١٩٥ بلداً، ١٩٣ منها أعضاء في الأمم المتحدة و٢ بصفة مراقبين هما فلسطين والڤاتيكان. وهذه الدول تتولى مسؤوليات ومناصب مختلفة ضمن نشاطات المؤسسة الأممية، بعضها تكليفية وبعضها بالانتخاب. ومن هذه المناصب المنتخبة عضوية مجلس حقوق الإنسان. (٢)

#Iraq: Unofficial election results show big loss for SOL of former PM Maliki. Also lost big time is al-Hikma of S. Ammar al-Hakim. Sadr Movement’s alliance strategy succeeded in adding more gains to those guaranteed by traditional loyalty. (1) PM Abadi is a close winner, thanks to incumbency factor, use of gov. resources, & alliance wiyh big fish. But still, nowhere near how Maliki performed with same advantages in 2014. PM Abadi will need to make very painful compromises to secure 2nd term. (2)