check his website…
I am loving al Sistani’s full embrace of the Interwebs.
Yesterday our favourite Ayatullah al-Sistani updated his website (a sort of Fatwa blog really) to share with us – his devout followers – some thoughts on the coming provincial elections. Unfortunately for you non-arabic speaking peeps you won’t be able to drink from this endless cup of wisdom.
The Ayatullah al-Uzma, his grand holiness Sayyid Ali Husaini Sistani’s answer to the question on where he stands on the coming elections is long winded equivalent of:
*shurg*
“ sure, why not…it’s cool bro”.
No, seriously.
Unlike the previous national elections where voting was deemed almost a religious duty this time the official line is that Sistani encourages all faithful to vote even though the previous elections might not have been fully satisfactory. The statement also says that the Ayatullah is keeping an equal distance from all candidates and is not endorsing anyone.
What is interesting is in his advice for us on how to choose the best candidate to vote for. He doesn’t mention the need for the candidate to be a devout Muslim – shock horror – more important for al-Sistani is the candidate’s honesty and ability to serve the people.
He might be a beardy Ayatullah and all but, I tell you, given half a chance al-Sistani can be a cool beardy Ayatullah.
Salam Pax 
January 20, 2009 at 4:34 pm |
Just discovered your new blog. Here’s hoping that you will be able to search out and publish the strangest stories you can find, that nobody else will touch.
January 21, 2009 at 5:37 pm |
Dear Salam, I am the German journalist you met in Paris in the summer of ’04 – remember? I read that you’re back in Baghdad. Would you mind answering a few questions by mail? I’d appreciate – best regards, Anna
January 24, 2009 at 1:04 am |
Lovely to have you back blogging : )
January 27, 2009 at 5:30 am |
Glad you posted the note on your old blog – that alerted me about your blogging here!
January 28, 2009 at 7:54 pm |
Hello,
I just found out about you and your blog from an article in the Guardian newspaper. It’s great!
I work on a project called Battlefront and we are featuring a young Iraqi girl on our site who wants to set up a National Youth Orchestra in Iraq. Have a look at her page here – http://battlefront.co.uk/campaign/music-for-a-change/
I wondered what you thought of it and if you might be interested in blogging about it, or supporting her campaign?
Do email me if you want to find out more,
all the best,
Jo
February 5, 2009 at 9:30 am |
“What is interesting is in his advice for us on how to choose the best candidate to vote for. He doesn’t mention the need for the candidate to be a devout Muslim – shock horror – more important for al-Sistani is the candidate’s honesty and ability to serve the people.”
Coming from such a prominent figure as Ayatullah al-Sistani, that is the most encouraging thing I have heard concerning the elections. It is great that there was so little violence, but this is even better news.
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