Najaf: Marja’iyaat warn against sidelining Shiites

By: Ismail Zabeeh

HOLY CITY OF NAJAF, Iraq: Iraqi vice-president Dr Ibrahim Al-Jafari contacted with Marja’iyaat Ad-Diniyah (the highest religious authorities) in Iraq informing them about details concerning Shiites situation and that the government seeks Shiites exclusion in political process, Iraqi sources said.

Jafari further told the Marja’iyaat that the government is working on granting Kurds wider powers in political authority on one hand, while gaining intimacy of the Baathist and some former regime officials through granting them important positions meeting their pledge by eliminating the armed operations in Falluja, Samra, Mosul and Baqubah on the other.

The sources said the Marja’iyaat demanded from Al-Jafari non-adoption of stance that contributes in marginalization of the Shiite majority - that makes up more than 70 percent of Iraq population according to the country’s religious elders - as happened in the past.

According to the sources the religious leaderships showed their fears of an attempt of marginalization of Shiites role after it was appeared clearly in the national conference which decisions were dominated by Kurds and the US-backed seculars.

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