Ashaq Alawsat reported Monday that Grand
Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani had sent a message to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah
Ali Khamenei criticizing Quds Force Commander Gen. Qasem Soleimani’s role in
Iraqi politics. The report said Sistani questioned Khamenei “whether
(Soleimani’s interventions in Iraqi politics) had happened under Khamenei’s
instruction or through Soleimani’s own independent actions.” (Ashaq Alawsat/Now,
7 September)
In late
August, Gen. Soleimani appeared at a meeting of Iraqi National Alliance
parliamentary coalition of Shia parties, reportedly criticizing Prime Minister
Haidar al-Abadi’s proposed reforms, especially Abadi’s plans to sack former PM
Nouri al-Maliki. The meeting ended with an acrimonious exchange between Soleimani
and Abadi. Ashaq Alawsat had reported
on 26 August that Abadi “objected strongly” when Soleimani criticized the
reforms he was pushing through parliament.
Sistani’s
frustration over Soleimani’s role in Iraq manifests differences between Najaf
clerical establishment and the Islamic Republic. Sistani has forcefully
defended Abadi’s reform proposals and Soleimani’s public criticism of the
reforms, in a meeting attended by the prime minister and over 70 Shia MPs, has
broken protocols of public deference to Sistani, Iraqi Shia spiritual leader,
which could affect Najaf’s historic role.
Among
recent differences between Sistani and the Iranians is Sistani’s insistence
that fighting corruption is a religious and legal duty of all Shias, including
the trial of Maliki if needed. Soleimani's, and probably Khamenei's, approach to
Abadi’s reform focuses on the political dimensions of the issue, thinking
holding to account of corrupt figures, i.e. Maliki, would undermine Shia power
in the country.
After a
report by the Iraqi parliament on 17 August blamed Maliki and top commanders
for the fall of Mosul to ISIL last year, Iran extended Maliki a show of
support, hosting him for a visit to Tehran on 19 August, two days after the
parliamentary report. During his visit, Maliki met with Khamenei, with photos
of the event widely published by the media.
Photo
credit: Portrait of Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, Iraq’s Shia spiritual leader (Ahmad
al-Rubaya/AFP)
