Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani
Biography Links

Quotations

Quotes:

On Paul Bremer's Provisional Coalition Authority:
Al-Sistani, who is the highest spiritual leader of the world's 170 million Shiites, said a council hand-picked by U.S. administrator Paul Bremer was "fundamentally unacceptable."

Associated Press, "U.S.-appointed Iraqi mayor arrested", Posted 7/1/03,
http://www.dailyherald.com/special/iraq/wwi_paststory.asp?intID=3780371

"Over the summer, he announced through a religious order, or fatwa, that he favored direct elections to choose the drafters of Iraq's new constitution. The constitution would decide issues of huge importance to the clerics, such as religion's role in government." Palm Beach Post, "Shite Cleric Wields Power" 12/4/2003 [available e-library]

"Religious authority Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani has warned that serious problems will take place if weapons are not controlled in the Iraqi street. He ascribed recent clashes in Shi'i areas to the weakness of the central government. He said that there is no alternative for holding general elections to produce representatives to draft a new Iraqi constitution." BBC, "Iraq: Shi'i cleric Al-Sistani warns of "serious problems" over weapons control",   10/21/2003
[available Electric Library]

Ayatollah Sistani has vast influence over Iraq's 15 million Shiites, and so far he has urged them to show patience with the occupation. But he has insisted that delegates elected by popular vote write Iraq's constitution and approve its new government.
''No one has the right to appoint the members of the constitutional assembly,'' he said several weeks ago, in a statement in response to written questions. ''We see no alternative but to go back to the people for choosing their representatives.''
New York Times, "Shiities Insist on Democracy", 11/30/2003
[available Electric Library]

On Voter Registration in Iraq:
"In The Name of The Almighty

All citizens, male and female, who are eligible to vote must make sure that their names are properly registered on the electoral register. Whoever has not registered his name or has done so incorrectly must refer to the electoral committee in their area and provide the required documents for registration and/or amendments. Our legitimate and reliable representatives should form local committees in their areas to assist citizens in realizing this important matter so that everyone will be able to participate in the elections which we hope will go ahead on the set date and it (the elections) will be a free and fair one with the participation of all Iraqis. Success is from Allah."
Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani Homepage