AP;
The Iraqi government’s campaign to win support for the country’s new constitution has won the critical backing of the most influential Shiite religious leader, less than a month before a national referendum on the draft charter.
[…]
Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, meeting with aides Thursday in the holy city of Najaf, urged his followers to vote “yes” on the new basic law, according to two top officials in al-Sistani’s organization. The officials refused to be identified because they are not authorized to speak for the reclusive cleric. In January, millions of Shiites followed al-Sistani’s call to vote in Iraq’s first democratic elections in nearly half a century, and the ballot gave the Muslim sect a majority in the new parliament and government.
Via OTB
Reader Tips Dept:
Said Sgt. Robin Hairston of the California National Guard: “I was in my sleeping bag and I opened by eyes and in the doorway was a little girl,” . “It wasn’t my imagination.”
Guardsmen Sense Ghostly Presence In New Orleans
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Quick…Alert U.N. President Kofi!!! The Iraqi people are working on creating a “Weapon of Mass Construction”. The U.N. and its’ partners must try harder to stop such an outrage!
Sistani seems to be a variant of a scarce type in Iraq.
Good and Righteous.
Good and righteous?
I don’t think so. There is a large question mark hanging over the Iraqi constitution: religious freedom.
Like all Muslim nations, Iraq will impose Islam on all citizens.
From Dhimmiwatch:
http://tinyurl.com/8dt3y
The patriarch of Baghdad for the Chaldeans has told Iraqi officials about Catholic bishops’ fears that the draft constitution “opens the door widely” to discrimination against Christians and other Non-Muslims.
[..]
The prelates — from the Chaldean, Armenian, Latin and Assyrian Churches — praised Articles 2.1(b) and 2.2 which defend freedom and religious rights but attacked Article 2.1(a) which states: “No law can be passed that contradicts the undisputed rules of Islam.”
The bishops’ statement concluded: “The bishops’ conference expressed a grave concern and fear � about Article 2.1(a). This opens the door widely to passing laws that are unjust towards non-Muslims. The conference insists that this clause be amended or deleted.”
Good and righteous is a stretch……
Anselm…patience. Long term change happens in small but consistent steps. It may take a generation but Iraq will evolve into a nation for all of it’s citizens. It’s like raising children…they all have to pass through the terrible two’s.
So well put Martin … I need contribute nothing if you do it for me completely. 73s TG
The Afghan constitution has similar provisions, yet no one made so much as a peep about it.
Thanks for the compliment Tony…I tell it the way I feel about it. Don’t let any of my drivelly sounding scribbles get in the way of expressing similar points of view. Many voices are needed to advance important ideas.