Muslim associations condemn Falluja attack; ask supporters to boycott elections

 

Azzaman, 2004-11-10

 

Tensions are high in the holy city of Karbala over senior clerics’ views on events in Falluja and the forthcoming general elections.

 

While the country’s most senior Shiite cleric Ali al-Sistani is still silent on the bloody events in the city, other senior clerics have began speaking out.

 

Sistani has not openly opposed the US occupation of the country and has called on his followers to take part in the January poll.

 

However, another top Shiite cleric, Mahmoud al-Hasani, has openly challenged Sistani by urging Muslim Shiites to boycott the elections and also condemning the attack on Falluja.

 

Hasani has issued a fatwa or religious decree saying that Muslim Shiites are not under obligation to take part in the elections.

 

Hasani’s supporters in the holy city of Karbala have posted the fatwa on the walls of the shrine in the city.

 

In the fatwa Hasani even criticizes Sistani’s silence and his call for Shiites to go polls.

 

The fatwa angered Sistani’s followers who, according to Karbala police clashed with Hasani’s supporters, using knives and sticks.

 

One person was reported killed in the scuffle.

 

Another Shiite cleric, Moqtada al-Sadr, has also condemned the attack on Najaf and called for a boycott of the elections.

 

The main association of Sunni clerics has already voiced its disapproval of the attack, urging Iraqi soldiers not to fight and calling on Iraqis in general to stay away from the January vote.