Posted on 05/24/2008 10:13:14 AM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach
I called this AP story fishy from the beginning:
Iraq’s most influential Shiite cleric has been quietly issuing religious edicts declaring that armed resistance against U.S.-led foreign troops is permissible — a potentially significant shift by a key supporter of the Washington-backed government in Baghdad…
~~~“(Al-Sistani) rejects the American presence,” he told the AP, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to comment to media. “He believes they (the Americans) will at the end pay a heavy price for the damage they inflicted on Iraq.”
For good reason it seems. Gateway Pundit has the scoop:
Iraqi-American Haider Ajina helped translate the article that was published at the Arabic website Iraq Alalaan:
Uzmatik / Najaf
This is from a source close to the Office of the religious authority, Mr. Ali al-Sistani in Najaf today, Friday, blasted some news sites and denied that op-Sistani “is preparing to issue a fatwa calling for armed resistance against occupation”.
The source, who asked to remain anonymous, in an interview with “Newsmatik”, “There is no truth to this irresponsible rumors in whole or even in part.”
Source added that from the beginning of religious authority from the outset is that “Iraq is not ready for jihad or a military confrontation for the time being, after the devastation left by the great wars of the former regime.”
The source said that Sistani “supports the resistance to the occupation, but not by military means, for the time being.”
Ali al-Sistani, the most prominent religious authority for Shiites in Iraq and the world, and the spiritual leader of the scientific estate in Najaf.
Haider also notes that Sistani has never said the American presence was an “occupation” before although he has called the Al-Qaeda presence in Al-Anbar an occupation force.
And the Iraqi press denied the report also:
A close source to grand ayatollah Ali Sistani’s office on Friday denied news agencies’ reports the Shiite cleric issued a fatwa permiting taking up weapons to drive the foreign occupation forces out of Iraq.
“The reports of issuing fatwa by the Shiite cleric Sistani permiting taking up arms to drive foreign troops out of Iraq were baseless”.
International news agencies reported Sistani issued a fatwa, an edict, legalizing Iraqis to hold up arms to drive US troops out of Iraq.
The source, a cleric from Karbala associated with Sistani office, pointed out “Sistani’s stance is clear since toppling the former regime (of Saddam Hussein) by calling for sticking to civil resistence to drive foreign troops out of Iraq”.
Ali Sistani, living in Najaf, is the top cleric and hold a strong sway over Shiites in Iraq and a number muslim countries.
Even more confirmation that its bogus:
Al-Malaf Press writes in Arabic that “Reliable, well-placed sources in the offices of four high-ranking Shi’a clerics in Iraq denied what was reported” regarding “fatwas” (religious opinions) issued by the Shi’a ayatollah Ali al-Sistani on the matter of armed resistance in Iraq against the foreign forces in the country.
~~~One source in the office of Muhammad Sa’id al-Hakim contacted by al-Malaf Press threatened to hold responsible those “airing false fatwas.” The source said that fatwas that do not bear Sistani’s seal or signature are considered false.
The same source told al-Malaf Press that the reports of the pro-resistance Sistani fatwas were “media stunts” intended to “effect confusion” among the Shi’a community.
I’m shocked….shocked! I tell ya that the AP would spread disinformation once again. Meanwhile the MSM ignored the testimony of Gen. Petraeus on Iraq because, well, good news doesn’t lead I suppose.
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Iraq's top Shiite cleric quietly hints at harder views against US forces
***************************EXCERPT*****************
May 22, 2008 | HAMZA HENDAWI and QASSIM ABDUL-ZAHRA
Posted on Fri 23 May 2008 07:53:47 AM PDT by Captain Kirk
Iraq's most influential Shiite cleric has been quietly issuing religious edicts declaring that armed resistance against U.S.-led foreign troops is permissible — a potentially significant shift by a key supporter of the Washington-backed government in Baghdad.
The edicts, or fatwas, by Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani suggest he seeks to sharpen his long-held opposition to American troops and counter the populist appeal of his main rivals, firebrand Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr and his Mahdi Army militia.
Update ping on the Sistana Fatwa....
Bump
AP = al-Qaeda Press.
Guess that is Sistani...not Sistana
I scratched my head when I read the reports in the morning newspaper.
I’ll bet I don’t see a retraction.
The enemedia strikes again.
Yeah.,....dumb question....
***********************Their Names****************
HAMZA HENDAWI and QASSIM ABDUL-ZAHRA
No use publishing their names. One thing about the Arabs: each one of them has about 20 aliases. If their reputation gets stained, which I doubt, these guys will just resurface with different names.
This is the reason no one should believe ANYTHING coming from AP.
It is a propaganda wing for the Islamists and terrorists worldwide.
Sorta like the DBM is for the democrat party.
You don't suppose Hamza and Qassim might be sympathetic to Mookie or al-Qaeda, do you?
You don't suppose AP got duped by their reporters, their translators or their sources, do you?
You don't suppose AP loved being taken advantage of, every bit of it, do you?
Well...something is going on!
I smelled a rodent when I saw the AP story yesterday. Thanks for the PING
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