Ayat Sistani leaves for London for medical treatment

By: Karim Tellawi

BEIRUT, Lebanon: Ayatullah Sayyed Ali As-Sistani was headed for London on Friday morning to receive treatment for a heart condition amid fierce fighting in his Iraqi base of holy city of Najaf during which holy shrine of Commander of Faithful Al-Imam Ali bin Abi Talib (p) suffered damage on Thursday.

According to officials at Beirut airport Ayatullah As-Sistani, 73, arrived in Beirut in the morning on a chartered jet from Baghdad and flew out on a scheduled Middle East Airlines flight for London at 11:30 am (0830 GMT).

Lebanon’s Parliament speaker Nabih Berri, who heads the Lebanese Shiite faction Amal, received the Ayatullah on the airport, the officials added.

Ayatullah As-Sistani was witnessed walking on the airport ground with the help of one of his companions.

Ayatullah Sistani, who suffered heart problem for the first time as one of his aides Hamid Khaffaf said, lives in a modest home in the holy city of Najaf, which houses the holy mausoleum of Al-Imam Ali bin Abi Talib (p) who is regarded as Caliph of all Muslims.

On Thursday, Khaffaf said Ayatullah As-Sistani is suffering from severe heart problem and a team of specialist doctors is treating him and providing care.

The news of his bad health came when Mehdi militia led by Moqtada As-Sadr is clashing with US forces in the holy city of Najaf.

The mainstream religious leadership in Iraq's holy cities has distanced itself from Moqtada Sadr’s radical moves which led to the sacrilege of holy sites for several times.

All Mo’mineen are requested to pray for immediate recovery of Ayatullah As-Sistani’s health as well as for the safety of all Maraje Uzzam from the enemies especially in this sensitive time.

END