Al-Sistani rings the bell: a motivational call or a final warning?

Shafaq News/ The statement of the Supreme Religious Authority, Ali Al-Sistani is greater than a call and less than a warning. But it rings the bell to draw attention to the fact that Iraq is at a dangerous stage unless the government of Mustafa Al-Kadhimi gives priority in the coming weeks to the hot files raised by the highest respected authority in Iraq, particularly among the Shiite majority.

Al-Kadhimi does not appear to be embarrassed by the statement–appeal made by Al-Sistani after receiving the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General Jeanine Hennis-Blasschaert in Najaf, because the scrutiny of the contents of the statement confirms that it is intrinsically converging with Al-Kadhimi’s movement since he took office last May, and all his public statements.

Al-Kadhimi received the directives from the statement, and hastened to confirm his commitment to the steps called for by the religious reference..this puts the Iraqi government and its officials, including all deputies and political blocs, on the job to achieve them –or under the burden of trying to get away with them.  

Trying to escape the political commitments set out by Al-Sistani does not seem an easy option for any sane person in the political-popular work currently in Iraq, at a time when the forces of protests are preparing to renew the "October Revolution" by mobilizing as its first anniversary approaches. In this sense, the "Sistani Appeal" is also a message to the protestors that the supreme authority adopts their demands and stands behind them for their success, and maybe an implicit call to the protesters not to exaggerate in the movement expected to be renewed soon.

Here is one aspect of the importance of the "Sistani Appeal", as it also draws some red lines, especially regarding the early elections that Al-Kadhimi called for next June, with the reluctance of indications - especially in the debate over Article 15 on the division of districts - that some political forces that may see themselves affected by the holding of elections are betting on trying to postpone or abort them from within the existing parliamentary-political system.

Ihsan al-Shammari, head of the center of political thought confirmed to Shafaq News agency that Al-Sistani's statement carried several important messages.