Karbala Friday Prayers’ Leader:

Iraqi economic situation critical

Rasa – The representative of Ayatollah al-Sistani stated that Iraq’s economic situation was critical and urged the government to adopt necessary measures to solve the problems facing the war-torn country.

News ID: 3453

Date: 09 October 2015 - 20:05

RNA – During his Friday prayer sermon delivered to a large and fervent crowd of believers in the Iraqi city of Karbala, Hujjat al-Islam Abdul-Mahdi al-Karbala’i appreciated the activities of Iraq’s armed forces in the fight against ISIL terrorists on various fronts.

The representative of Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Ali al-Sistani said that in recent days, the country’s armed forces and Popular Mobilization Forces have made significant progress in some important areas of al-Anbar and Diyala provinces where they recaptured territory from ISIL forces.

“We pray to God to make these forces victorious over the terrorists and to have mercy on the wounded,” he said.

His Eminence explained that without any shame, the ISIL terrorist group is involved in heinous crimes, including equipping cars with explosives and targeting Iraqi civilians in crowded markets and public places.

“Last week, a large number of innocent Iraqi citizens were martyred in bombings in al-Zubayr and in al-Khalis,” he explained.

Hujjat al-Islam Abdul-Mahdi al-Karbala’i added: “We renew our demand that authorities accept their responsibility to protect citizens from such evildoers.”

Karbala’s Friday prayers’ leader described the difficult economic situation in Iraq and pointed out that while in recent years, Iraq has spent a lot of resources to rid Iraq of terrorism, there has been very little attention to the issue of industry and agriculture in Iraq.

His Eminence explained that Iraq’s current economic situation will lead to serious problems for the country in the future and warned that foreign borrowing will damage the country's budget and leave the country indebted and thus called for the participation of experts and specialists to solve the country’s problems and crises and said the Iraqi government must accurately and efficiently plan and implement Prime Minister Haydar al-Abadi’s economic reform program.

“More than ever before, Iraq currently needs an accurate and precise economic and financial plan,” the Iraqi scholar stated.

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