Ayat Seestani: Occupiers not allowed to draft new constitution

By: Ismail Zabeeh

HOLY CITY OF NAJAF, Iraq: Grand Ayatullah Ali Al-Husayni As-Seestani, residing in the holy city of Najaf, has said it is impermissible for the occupation authorities in the holy land of Iraq to create a council for drafting a new Iraqi constitution.

In his fatwa, or religious verdict, issued in response to a question by Momineen of Iraq regarding the drafting of constitution by US-led occupation authorities, Ayatullah As-Seestani termed the plan as “unacceptable from its basis.”

He emphasized that those authorities do not enjoy any validity for the appointment of the councilors of the constitution-drafting council.

He further said there is no guarantee that the council would formulate a constitution, which meets the supreme interests of the Iraqi people and reflects their national identity, which bases on the religion of Islam.

Ayatullah As-Seestani said it is necessary first of all that general elections be conducted so that all Iraqis choose representatives to a constitutive council for drafting the constitution, then later any constitution approved by the council should be put to general vote.

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