Sistani Fatwas Against Vote Buying, Iraqi Lobbyists Up in Arms………
“Iraq's top Shia cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani has issued a Fatwa (religious ruling), declaring vote-buying as Haraam (forbidden) ahead of the country's parliament elections. Speaking on behalf of the Ayatollah, Sheikh Abdul Mahdi al-Karbalaei, called on candidates and political parties to respect election laws and avoid trying to influence voter decision through dishonest means. "Candidates and political entities must adopt a realistic and feasible program to encourage people to vote for them," Sheikh Abdel Mahdi al-Karbalai told worshippers during the Friday prayers sermon in Karbala's Imam Hussein mosque. "They should avoid making unrealistic promises… [They should] also refrain from slandering one another, because it is unacceptable and immoral," he added. Karbalai, who is a representative of the leading Shia spiritual leader, also noted that the religious leadership did not favor any particular group or candidate. He said, however, that showing up at the ballot box on March 7 was not enough, stressing that everyone had a moral responsibility to choose the candidate that they believed would best secure Iraq's present and future interests. The cleric also explicitly stated that distributing money, gifts and promises of future handouts to impact election results are an impermissible act based on all religious and ethical principles…………”
Now I know why not a single US member of Congress (both houses) is a Shi’a. Al-Sistani is probably the lobbyists’ most hated cleric, a real foe not a phony one like John McCain. Imagine if Rick Warren, Pat Robertson, or
It is a good thing most all of the oligarchs and potentates pouring hundreds of millions of dollars into Iraqi elections are not Shi’as. Otherwise they would be guilty of behavior that is not kosher.
Cheers
mhg
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