Statement by Grand Ayatollah Shirazi Following Nationwide Protests in Iraq

In the wake of recent nationwide protests in Iraq, the Grand Shia Jurist Ayatollah Shirazi published a statement that reads as follows:

In the name of God, the Beneficent, the Merciful

Verily we are from God and to Him we shall return.

Iraq is the land of the Commander of the Faithful, Imam Hussein, the promised savior, and all other infallible Imams (peace be upon them) which has unfortunately witnessed the believers face death and injuries. In the wake of this painful tragedy, I advise everyone to do their utmost to stop the ongoing killings that stain the entire history of humankind. I also order the government, the army, the police and the security forces not to prevent any peaceful demonstrations and fulfill the demands of these protestors, in the same way that Imam Ali (peace be upon him) behaved with justice and virtue during his time as the leader of the Muslim world. And I also recommend the proud nation of Iraq, this oppressed and resilient nation, the nation that has experienced the grasp of oppressive and tyrannical governments over the past decades, to make sure that their demonstrations and protests are peaceful and do not allow anyone to infiltrate their ranks and tarnish the reputation of this courageous and spirited nation. I pray to God the Almighty to hasten the end of this calamity and restore complete security and stability to Iraq, by the grace of the holy Prophet Mohammad and his pure Household.

Sadiq Shirazi, Safar 30, 1441 AH.