Karbala Friday Prayers’ Leader:

Fight against ISIL Iraq’s main priority

Rasa – Hujjat al-Islam Abdul-Mahdi al-Karbala’i Ayatollah al-Sistani’s representative, stated that the fight against terrorism is the country's main priority.

News ID: 3398

Date: 25 September 2015 - 20:29

RNA – Main priority for Iraq is the fight against ISIL because the results of this war directly effects the present and future for all Iraqis, Hujjat al-Islam Abdul-Mahdi al-Karbala’i said during his Friday prayer sermon delivered to a large and fervent crowd of believers in the Iraqi city of Karbala.

“As a result, we must sustain the momentum of our achievements on the battlefield and uphold the morale of the armed forces for the rest of the war,” he said.

The representative of Iraq’s most senior Shi’ite authority said that Iraq is facing many challenges, difficulties and dangers, such as the financial crisis, the fight against administrative corruption and sectarian quotas.

“These problems should not led us to retreat from or neglect the war on terrorism and also they do not justify a failure to defeat ISIL,” the Iraqi scholar said.

Hujjat al-Islam al-Karbala’i said cooperation and coordination between the various Iraqi forces and groups on the frontlines is the foundation of success in this war.

He added that this war is a national war and is a decisive event for Iraq, saying: “Victory in this war is the victory of all and defeat in this war will have consequences for the Iraqi people’s present and future.”

He explained that Iraq in dire need of reform, especially in the administrative and economic arenas, and added that the fight against corruption in government institutions is also an important issue which is the responsibility of the three branches of government.

“For those who hinder the implementation of reforms in the country, any regret they feel afterwards will not have any advantage for them,” the Friday prayers’ leader added.

His Eminence also called for the revision of the government’s financial policy and said the Iraqi government should place economists skilled in handling economic issues in charge of economic affairs. He also demanded solutions to avoid the effects of lower oil prices, saying it is unlikely that prices will rise again.

Hujjat al-Islam al-Karbala’i called for arms and logistical support be given to Iraq’s soldiers, and also called for the government to grant rights to refugees, families of the martyrs and wounded, saying this is of great importance that the government and relevant agencies must make every effort to implement these needs.

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