Ayat Sistani urges deal compliance, visits shrine after 10 years

By: Ismail Zabeeh

HOLY CITY OF NAJAF, Iraq: Holy Najaf Governor Adnan Az-Zorfi, Mehdi militia leader Moqtada As-Sadr and representative of Sayyed Abdul Aziz Al-Hakim’s Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution in Iraq held meeting with Ayatullah Sayyed Ali As-Sistani at Marjaiyah office in the holy city of Najaf on Monday.

The delegations conferred about latest political and security developments in Iraq and holy Najaf with the Ayatullah.

During the meeting, Ayatullah As-Sistani urged all sides to fully observe last month’s peace deal which ended three-week bloody clashes in Holy Najaf. He put emphasis on the need of boosting security conditions throughout Iraq, and particularly in holy cities of Najaf, Karbala and Kazemain, as well as quick reconstruction of the Holy Najaf, according to Iraq Monday night TV news and Ayatullah’s spokesman.

The meeting was first of its kind which the higher religious authority held for discussion of security and service conditions in Holy Najaf.

Holy Najaf has been a scene of anti-Sadr demonstrations for several days. Some regional media have accused Sadr's supporters of burying their opponents' bodies in mass graves during the recent armed clashes in Holy Najaf.

In another development, Ayatullah Sistani on Monday visited the holy shrine of Al-Imam Ali bin Abi Talib (p) in Holy Najaf and offered Fajr (dawn) prayers therein. This was Ayatullah Sistani’s first public appearance in at least 10 years.

Last week, Ayatullah Sistani made his first visit to the sacred shrine in 10 years as he spent years under house arrest during the reign of former dictator Saddam.

Ayatullah Sistani urged workers renovating the holy mausoleum to work diligently to pave the way for re-opening it to visitors next week.

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