Article

2004-10-28 Afghanistan/South Asia

"Islamic scholars" split on legitimacy of Afghan election

Archived material is restricted to Rantburg regulars and members. If you need access email fred.pruitt=at=gmail.com with your nick to be added to the members list. There is no charge to join Rantburg as a member.

Posted by Anonymoose 2004-10-28 12:36:33 PM|| E-Mail|| Front Page|| [1819 views since 2007-05-07] Top

1 Is there nothing they don't know.

Posted by Lucky 2004-10-28 3:06:34 PM|| 2004-10-28 3:06:34 PM|| Front Page Top

2 Hi ya Lucky! How's every little damn thing? :)

Posted by Shipman 2004-10-28 3:32:59 PM|| 2004-10-28 3:32:59 PM|| Front Page Top

3

Healing Iraq:

"Sayyid Ahmed Al-Safi, a representative of Grand Ayatollah Ali Al-Sistani, reiterated during the Friday prayers sermon at Karbala the call of the Maji'iya for widespread participation and voting in the upcoming elections late January 2005. Al-Safi stressed that 'heavy participation in the voting procedures is a national and legal (religious) duty,' adding that those who refrain from voting would 'enter Jahannam (Hell)'.

Al-Safi strongly denied rumours appearing in the media last week that the Marji'iya or Sistani had prepared or endorsed any slate of candidates. This following attempts by several Islamic parties in the south (such as the Da'wa party, SCIRI, and Hizbollah) to mislead Shi'ite Iraqi voters that they are backed and supported by the Marji'iya, or that voting for candidates from these specific parties is an 'order' from the Sayyid (Sistani). Some have even presented forged statements with Sistani's seal on them to convince potential voters.

Meanwhile, the Association of Muslim Scholars continues its threats to boycott the elections especially if a military campaign is carried out against Fallujah or other 'Sunni' towns and areas. On the other hand, several Sunni clerics as well as the Islamic party have issued statements strongly encouraging Iraqi Sunnis to vote in order to guarantee representation in the government and not to fall into the trap of avoiding the elections.

Another Shi'ite cleric, Ayatollah Sheikh Muhammed Al-Ya'qubi, leader of the Islamic Fadhila party and a disciple of the late Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammed Sadiq Al-Sadr, also stressed in a recent statement that voting is an imperative duty for all Muslims the same as prayers or fasting.

As far as public Iraqi opinion. I sense that Iraqis in the north and south are the most eager to vote, unlike Iraqis in Baghdad and the surrounding areas. This is probably due to security concerns as voting centers in Baghdad are easier to come under attack. The same applies to the areas north, west and east of Baghdad. One example is the continous suicide bombings of IP and National Guard recruiting centers, no security measures have been successful in preventing these attacks. Recruits still stand in long queues on the street just like sitting ducks waiting to be bombed. If the voting procedures would be in a similar fashion then I doubt anyone would be willing to vote, and nobody can possibly blame them for that."

Posted by Liberalhawk 2004-10-28 3:40:51 PM|| 2004-10-28 3:40:51 PM|| Front Page Top

4 Someone could take a drive to "just outside" Kabul and give this dork a lead injection. Problem solved.

Posted by Sock Puppet of Doom 2004-10-28 7:38:53 PM|| [http://www.slhess.com] 2004-10-28 7:38:53 PM|| Front Page Top

5 One has even urged supporters to wage war against the new government.

Now there is a genious if I've ever seen one. LMAO!

Posted by Alaska Paul 2004-10-28 10:09:12 PM|| 2004-10-28 10:09:12 PM|| Front Page Top

6 Is everybody in Islam either a "scholar" or a "cleric"?

Posted by tu3031 2004-10-28 10:11:27 PM|| 2004-10-28 10:11:27 PM|| Front Page Top

7 Or "cannon fodder."

Posted by Seafarious 2004-10-28 10:13:11 PM|| 2004-10-28 10:13:11 PM|| Front Page Top

8 [Off-topic or abusive comments deleted]

Posted by Grumpy Uncle Sam TROLL 2004-10-29 3:42:25 AM|| 2004-10-29 3:42:25 AM|| Front Page Top

9 Off-topic or abusive comments deleted]

Posted by Grumpy Uncle Sam 2004-10-29 3:42:25 AM|| 2004-10-29 3:42:25 AM|| Front Page Top