An Iraqi Shiite cleric close to Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani launched a veiled criticism of Iranian influence in the country, sparking a backlash Sunday from a senior pro-Iran figure.

Iran has bolstered its influence over its neighbour in recent years. Iraq's state-sponsored Hashed-al-Shaabi paramilitary network, which is dominated by pro-Iran groups, now wields major political and military sway in the country.

Critics have accused the Hashed of being Iran's armed wing in Iraq, and protesters who took part in a popular uprising in late 2019 blame it for wave of assassinations and kidnappings of activists.

During a religious event on Saturday, Sheikh Hamid al-Yassiri appeared to lash out at the Hashed, without naming it or Iran directly.

Revered Shiite figure "Imam Hussein taught us that whoever is not loyal to his homeland is a traitor and an imposter," Yassiri said.

"All counsel, all voices and positions that come from beyond the borders have nothing to do with the doctrine of Imam Hussein."

The comments sparked the ire of Qais al-Khazali, who heads a powerful Hashed faction known as Asaib Ahl al-Haq.

Khazali in a tweet accused "certain religious figures who hide behind nationalism" of "trying to pass off their projects by linking their ideas to Imam Hussein".

Sistani, the highest religious authority for Iraq's Shiite Muslims, is highly reclusive and rarely breaks his silence to intervene in politics.

In June 2014, he issued a historic edict calling on Iraqis to take up arms against the Sunni jihadists of the Islamic State group who had swept across swathes of the north -- a ruling that spawned the creation of the Hashed al-Shaabi.

Related Links
Iraq: The first technology war of the 21st century

Tweet

Thanks for being here; We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal		SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only

Murder of city official fuels anger over Iraq impunity
Karbala, Iraq (AFP) Aug 11, 2021
The gunning down in the street of a municipal official in the Iraqi shrine city of Karbala sparked anger Wednesday over the government's failure to halt a wave of assassinations. Abir Salim, the director of municipal services in the city which houses the mausoleums of two of Shiite Islam's most revered figures, was shot dead as he was carrying out his duties on Tuesday, Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhemi's office said. He was on foot supervising a survey of unauthorised construction in Karbala wh ... read more