Philadelphia Inquirer
October 21, 2003
Shiite Cleric Warns Of Too Many Guns
By Hamza Hendawi, Associated Press
BAGHDAD - Iraq's most influential Shiite Muslim cleric warned of "grave problems" if nothing was done to stem the proliferation of firearms in the country and attributed clashes between his supporters and followers of a radical cleric to the weakness of Iraq's U.S.-backed authorities.
In written comments given Sunday to the Associated Press, Grand Ayatollah Ali Hussein al-Sistani, the spiritual leader of most of Iraq's Shiite majority, also said there could be "no substitute" for a general election to choose delegates to a convention to draft a new constitution - despite U.S. demands for a quicker selection process.
The U.S.-led coalition repeatedly has stated its preference for a faster method to choose the delegates - such as having the U.S.-appointed Iraqi Governing Council select from a list of legal experts put forward by tribal and other leaders. Coalition officials believe choosing delegates by general election would take too long.
A U.N. Security Council resolution adopted unanimously last week sets a Dec. 15 deadline for the Governing Council to come up with a time line for adopting a constitution and holding national elections.
However, the Governing Council has been unable to agree on a formula for choosing delegates to the constitutional convention. Preparations for an election to choose delegates could take six to 12 months, but some council members say the drafting of the constitution could begin while these preparations were under way.
Sistani's comments were made in reply to written questions submitted by AP to his office in the holy city of Najaf. His replies, also in writing, bore his office's seal, meaning they were considered official statements.
His views are considered significant because of the enormous prestige he commands among Iraq's Shiites, who make up about 60 percent of the country's 24 million people.
Sistani's demand for measures against illegal arms possession appeared to be a call for U.S. and Iraqi authorities to take action against the Imam al-Mahdi Army, a militia set up by firebrand cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, whose members fought nightlong battles against Sistani's supporters a week ago in the holy Shiite city of Karbala.
Sadr, a populist cleric whose militant message appeals to poor and young Shiites but who lacks Sistani's scholarly weight, has been flaunting his army recently, allowing recruits to parade with their firearms in Najaf, Karbala, and a Shiite-dominated district of Baghdad.
Members of the Imam Army are thought to be responsible for the deaths of two U.S. soldiers in a Baghdad ambush Oct. 9. Pentagon officials have since spoken of Sadr as a threat and of preparations to take action against him.
Sistani, however, appeared to place the blame on the coalition and U.S.-backed Iraqi authorities.
"What happened in holy Karbala," he said, "... was the result of the absence of an effective and powerful central authority and the existence of a large number of weapons in the hands of unruly individuals. There may be new grave problems if measures are not taken."
The Iranian-born Sistani did not mention Sadr by name and denied any involvement in last week's fighting, which left up to 10 people dead and scores injured in Karbala.
October 21, 2003
Shiite Cleric Warns Of Too Many Guns
By Hamza Hendawi, Associated Press
BAGHDAD - Iraq's most influential Shiite Muslim cleric warned of "grave problems" if nothing was done to stem the proliferation of firearms in the country and attributed clashes between his supporters and followers of a radical cleric to the weakness of Iraq's U.S.-backed authorities.
In written comments given Sunday to the Associated Press, Grand Ayatollah Ali Hussein al-Sistani, the spiritual leader of most of Iraq's Shiite majority, also said there could be "no substitute" for a general election to choose delegates to a convention to draft a new constitution - despite U.S. demands for a quicker selection process.
The U.S.-led coalition repeatedly has stated its preference for a faster method to choose the delegates - such as having the U.S.-appointed Iraqi Governing Council select from a list of legal experts put forward by tribal and other leaders. Coalition officials believe choosing delegates by general election would take too long.
A U.N. Security Council resolution adopted unanimously last week sets a Dec. 15 deadline for the Governing Council to come up with a time line for adopting a constitution and holding national elections.
However, the Governing Council has been unable to agree on a formula for choosing delegates to the constitutional convention. Preparations for an election to choose delegates could take six to 12 months, but some council members say the drafting of the constitution could begin while these preparations were under way.
Sistani's comments were made in reply to written questions submitted by AP to his office in the holy city of Najaf. His replies, also in writing, bore his office's seal, meaning they were considered official statements.
His views are considered significant because of the enormous prestige he commands among Iraq's Shiites, who make up about 60 percent of the country's 24 million people.
Sistani's demand for measures against illegal arms possession appeared to be a call for U.S. and Iraqi authorities to take action against the Imam al-Mahdi Army, a militia set up by firebrand cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, whose members fought nightlong battles against Sistani's supporters a week ago in the holy Shiite city of Karbala.
Sadr, a populist cleric whose militant message appeals to poor and young Shiites but who lacks Sistani's scholarly weight, has been flaunting his army recently, allowing recruits to parade with their firearms in Najaf, Karbala, and a Shiite-dominated district of Baghdad.
Members of the Imam Army are thought to be responsible for the deaths of two U.S. soldiers in a Baghdad ambush Oct. 9. Pentagon officials have since spoken of Sadr as a threat and of preparations to take action against him.
Sistani, however, appeared to place the blame on the coalition and U.S.-backed Iraqi authorities.
"What happened in holy Karbala," he said, "... was the result of the absence of an effective and powerful central authority and the existence of a large number of weapons in the hands of unruly individuals. There may be new grave problems if measures are not taken."
The Iranian-born Sistani did not mention Sadr by name and denied any involvement in last week's fighting, which left up to 10 people dead and scores injured in Karbala.