The head of the International Committee of the Red Cross:

Ayatollah al-Sistani ‘not just religious authority but also authority on humanity’

Rasa – Dr. Peter Maurer said, “Ayatollah al-Sistani isn’t the only religious authority in Islam, but rather he is authority of humanity.”

News ID: 428475

Date: 03 April 2017 - 12:43

RNA – Dr. Peter Maurer, the president of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), thanked and offered his appreciation for the efforts of Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Ali al-Sistani, a Najaf-based Shi’ah source of emulation, for providing assistance to refugees fleeing the violence and extremism of Daesh Takfiri terrorists in Mosul and northern Iraq and also expressed his appreciation in regard to His Eminence’s call for Shi’ahs to assist the displaced Sunnis of Mosul.

He said hundreds of tons of food and clothing have been sent to Mosul from Ayatollah al-Sistani and his affiliates for the refugees in Mosul.

Dr. Maurer also thanked the Iraqi army, Popular Mobilization Forces and volunteers who have assisted and provided food aid for the civilians of Mosul.

“As well, the people of southern Iraq have established dozens of tents in northern areas of the country to provide food to displaced Sunni families of Mosul,” he added.

Dr. Maurer, who was elected as the head of the ICRC in July 2012, said that he met with Ayatollah al-Sistani in January 2017 and appreciated and thanked him for his efforts to help the refugees from various regions, sects and ethnicities.

The Swiss diplomat said, “Ayatollah al-Sistani isn’t the only religious authority in Islam, but rather he is authority of humanity because he has provided more than three million dollars every month for the care of orphans and the protection of refugees, widows, the poor and other groups through a group of charities.”

Iraqi army soldiers and allied fighters are leading military operations to win back Daesh-held regions, trying to eliminate terrorists or driving them out of the country.

They took control of eastern Mosul in January after 100 days of fighting, and launched the battle in the west on February 19.

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