ABNA24 - A senior Iraqi cleric, Ayatollah Sayyid Yasin al-Mousawi, says ongoing regional developments go beyond geopolitical rivalries, describing the situation as a decisive battle over the truth of Islam and the future of the Muslim world.
In Friday sermons delivered in Baghdad, the prominent scholar warned that the current week marks a “critical turning point in the life of Islam and Muslims.” He said recent attacks attributed to the United States and Israel against Iraqi forces, including the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), are not isolated incidents but part of a broader strategy targeting the foundations of Islam and resistance movements.
He rejected narratives portraying the developments as merely a confrontation between Iran and the United States or Israel, stressing that such framing sidelines Iraq’s central role. According to him, calls for neutrality effectively align with the US-led camp and undermine the position of resistance forces.
Ayatollah al-Mousawi also criticized official Iraqi positions, including statements by state institutions describing the attacks as acts of “self-defense,” saying such language implicitly legitimizes foreign military actions on Iraqi soil.
Referring to Iraq’s religious significance, the cleric described the country as a central hub for Shiite Islam, home to the shrines of Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib and Imam Husayn ibn Ali (PBUT), as well as other revered figures. He said the ongoing confrontation is therefore not limited to borders, but concerns the essence of Islamic faith and identity.
Linking the developments to the religious decree of Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, the cleric said support for resistance has been framed as a “collective duty,” which should not be reduced to nationalism but understood within a broader religious framework.
He described the current conflict as a continuation of the historic struggle between Imam Husayn and Yazid ibn Muawiya, urging people to clearly determine their position. “Choose your position,” he said, adding that neutrality in such circumstances amounts to siding with falsehood.
The Baghdad Friday prayer leader further criticized the Iraqi government’s condemnation of attacks on US and Israeli-linked bases in Persian Gulf countries, questioning whether Baghdad is truly neutral or effectively aligned with Washington.
He maintained that resistance forces do not target civilians in countries such as Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Bahrain, but rather what he described as “aggressive military centers” belonging to the US and Israel. Claims of strikes on residential areas, he said, lack evidence.
Ayatollah al-Mousawi also accused some regional media outlets of exaggerating missile interception claims and downplaying the extent of US military presence in the region.
Turning to domestic issues, he criticized rulings by Iraq’s Federal Supreme Court sentencing individuals accused of targeting foreign military sites, arguing that such locations are being mischaracterized as diplomatic missions. He claimed facilities such as the US embassy in Baghdad function as military bases.
He praised Iraqi resistance fighters as “brave sons of the nation” defending the country’s sovereignty, and called for supporting them across all fronts, including media and social spheres, describing such support as a religious obligation.
The cleric also invoked historical parallels, including Iraq’s 1920 uprising against British colonial rule, saying future generations will judge today’s stance just as history has judged past resistance movements.
Citing a well-known jurisprudential principle, he said that when the integrity of Islam is at stake, compromise is not permissible.
In conclusion, Ayatollah al-Mousawi stressed that confronting the United States and Israel in the current context is not merely a political stance but a clear religious duty.
He also recalled a 2011 meeting with Martyr Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, saying the trajectory of resistance has continued ever since, shaping a broader awareness that rejects what he described as “false neutrality” in the face of ongoing challenges.
/129
Your Comment