Yesterday, the Shiite authority in Iraq led by Ali Al-Sistani rebuked the Iraqi security forces for failing to protect protesters who were killed in clashes with anti-government groups in the city of Najaf, and he urged politicians to choose a new government that enjoys the confidence of the people and works to calm the situation.
In detail, Sistani, in the words of his representative, Ahmed Al-Safi, condemned the Friday sermon in Karbala of violence in Najaf, and held the security forces responsible.
Al-Sistani said that the security forces "must bear the responsibility to maintain security and stability, protect the peaceful protest spaces and demonstrators, uncover aggressors and intruders, and safeguard the interests of citizens from attacks by saboteurs."
He said that any new Iraqi government must gain the trust and support of the people.
He added, "The new government that replaces the resigned government must be worthy of the trust of the people, and capable of calming the situation and restoring the prestige of the state, and taking the necessary steps to hold early elections in a calm environment away from the side effects of money or arms."
"The new government should hold early elections in a reassuring atmosphere without external interference," Ahmed Al-Safi said during his Friday sermon in front of thousands of worshipers in the city of Karbala.
Ahmed Al-Safi added, “Despite the repeated calls made by the religious authority on the necessity of rejecting violence and commitment to the safety of demonstrations, and purifying the popular movement demanding reform from actions that harm people's interests and lose the solidarity and sympathy of citizens, this did not prevent unfortunate and painful incidents during the days. The past spilled unjustly precious blood in it, the last of which was what happened in the city of Najaf last Wednesday evening.
He added, "While the religious authority condemns all the attacks and abuses that took place from any party, it affirms what has already been indicated on another occasion that the official security forces are indispensable to avoid falling into the chaos of chaos and disturbing public order. To bear the responsibility of maintaining security and stability, and protecting the peaceful protest and protest arenas. ”
He called for "exposing the aggressors and the infiltrators, and preserving the interests of citizens from the attacks of the saboteurs, and there is no justification for her to abandon her from carrying out her duties in this framework."
Violence in the city of Najaf, where Sistani is based, killed at least eight protesters when Sadr movement leader Muqtada al-Sadr stormed a camp for anti-government protesters.
The incident revealed new tension in Iraq, where about 500 people were killed in the months of protests.
Recent events have seen young anti-government protesters stand against many of Sadr's supporters, known as blue-haired owners.
The Iraqi President, Barham Salih, had commissioned, on February 1, Muhammad Tawfiq Allawi, the former Minister of Communications, to form a new government, but the protesters refuse to do so, and they want to assign an independent politician who has not held a ministerial position before.
The “Reference”: The security forces must protect the protest areas and peaceful protestors.