Ayat Sistani urges respect for 'Holy Najaf'

By: Sultan Ahmed

DUBAI: Iraq's Ayatullah Ali As-Sistani has called for the holy city of Najaf to be respected, an aide said on Thursday in London where the Ayatullah is being treated for a heart problem.

“Ayatullah Ali As-Sistani is pained and very sad about what is happening in holy Najaf,” Murtaza Al-Kashmiri said. “We call for the holy soil and holy sites of this city to be respected.”

Kashmiri said Sistani's condition was largely stable, but added the elderly cleric had been “deeply worried” by the fighting in Najaf.

“We have had comforting reports back from the doctors but the situation is affecting him. He is very upset which is not good,” he added.

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