Preserving sovereignty for Iraq must be the most important issue: Ayt. Sistani

Rasa - Ayatollah Sistani said: “Cooperation with the international effort shall not be taken as a pretext to impose foreign decisions on events in Iraq, especially military events.”

News ID: 1186

Date: 20 September 2014 - 11:33

RNA – In a statement read by Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani’s spokesman at Friday Prayer in the Iraqi city of Karbala, the prominent Iraqi Shia leader urged vigilance against Western political interference in Iraqi affairs and opposed the American-led military campaign against the terrorists of the so-called Islamic State.

“All political leaders of the country must be aware and awake to prevent the external assistance against the Islamic State from becoming an entrance to breach Iraq’s independence,” Ayatollah Sistani said.

“Cooperation with the international effort shall not be taken as a pretext to impose foreign decisions on events in Iraq, especially military events.”

“Iraq may be in need of assistance from its friends and brothers to combat black terrorism,” Ayatollah Sistani said. But for Iraq, “preserving its sovereignty and independence must be the most important thing and must be taken into consideration.”

In recent days, a handful of other Iraqi Shiite leaders or militias have made statements expressing more wariness or opposition to the American-led military efforts.

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