Shi’ite political blocs in Iraq are awaiting the final position of Ali al-Sistani to be made during a sermon next Friday when the religious figure would speak about exploiting the victories of the Popular Mobilization Forces in the fight against ISIS for electoral purposes.
Parliamentary blocs have exchanged accusations about the politicization of a fatwa issued by Sistani in 2014, in which he called on Iraqis to volunteer in the fight against terror.
During last Friday’s sermon, Sistani’s representative Abdul Mahdi al-Karbalai said the spiritual leader rejects exploiting the name of the PMF in the upcoming polls.
Sources close to al-Sistani told Asharq Al-Awsat that during next Friday’s sermon, the religious figure is expected to have his final say about the current exchange of accusations among Shi’ite blocs concerning exploiting the name of the PMF, two weeks ahead of the May 12 elections.
“It is unfortunate that some parties are using this fatwa in a way contrary to what the religious authority had called for,” Professor Haider al-Ghorabi told Asharq Al-Awsat.
He added: “The fatwa did not have sectarian dimensions. It was purely patriotic as it was issued alongside a fatwa from the Sunni Dar al-Fatwa, which also spoke about the importance of defending the nation against ISIS.”
