RNA – During his Friday prayers’ sermon delivered to a large and fervent crowd of believers in the Iraqi city of Karbala’s Holy Shrine of Imam al-Husayn, Hujjat al-Islam Sayyid Ahmad al-Safi condemned the two bomb explosions which occurred Thursday in the mainly Shi’a neighbourhoods of central Baghdad which killed 24 people and wounded 121 others.
The representative of Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Ali al-Sistani called for Iraqi authorities to strengthen security, especially in regard to intelligence, in order to prevent the repetition of such incidents.
The ISIL Takfiri group claimed responsibility for both attacks in a statement.
Hujjat al-Islam al-Safi urged the government to continue to provide all possible forms of support to the government security forces, volunteer militias (Popular Mobilization Forces) and tribal forces who "are facing the terrorists on various fronts" and "are giving their blood for the sake of Iraq and its people and their sanctities."
Hujjat al-Islam al-Safi also called on the government to deal with the war-torn country’s economic and financial problems and give greater attention to the private sector in all sectors, including the industrial, commercial and agricultural sectors, and to facilitate a review of its laws which stand in the way of the revitalization of these sectors.
Hujjat al-Islam al-Safi added that these reforms will have a great and positive impact on the country if they are implemented within precise criteria and fit in with the requirements of the people.
He explained that there is no doubt that there are economic and financial problems facing Iraq and the state is burdened with many financial obligations, adding: “It is known that the economic situation will improve quickly if the state eases the burden placed upon it and opens the private sector.”
His Eminence pointed out that the government cannot meet all the legitimate demands of the people due to the worsening crises in the country. He also called on the government to work hard to provide suitable job opportunities for the many Iraqi youth who are unemployed and have no opportunities.
“Action is needed to provide them with a decent living but not to waste state money,” he said.
Hujjat al-Islam al-Safi also demanded that the government put trustworthy people in the positions of power in order to implement Prime Minister Haydar al-Abadi’s reform plan and tackle corruption.
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