Washington’s envoy to Baghdad denounces an Israeli broadcast which presents the Shiite leader as an assassination target.
US Ambassador to Iraq Alina Romanowski denounced the presence of Shiite spiritual leader Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani on an apparent Israel Channel 14 blacklist, praising the Muslim scholar for “promoting a more peaceful region.
Washington expressed solidarity with al-Sistani on Thursday amid growing outrage in the Middle East, particularly from Shiite groups, over the Israeli broadcast.
“Grand Ayatollah Sistani is a renowned and respected religious leader in the international community. He is a critical and influential voice in promoting a more peaceful region,” Romanowski said in a social media post without explicitly mentioning the Israeli broadcast.
“We reject any suggestion to target Grand Ayatollah Sistani. The United States continues to support efforts to promote peace in the region,” she added.
Grand Ayatollah Sistani is a renowned and respected religious leader in the international community. He is a critical and influential voice in promoting a more peaceful region. We reject any suggestion to target Grand Ayatollah Sistani. The United States continues to support…
– Ambassador Alina L. Romanowski (@USAmbIraq) October 10, 2024
Channel 14 this week broadcast the photo of al-Sistani with a red cross above his head, alongside photos of Israel’s main adversaries, including Hezbollah deputy leader Naim Qassem and Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.
Al-Sistani, a 94-year-old Iraqi scholar of Iranian origin, is considered one of the highest spiritual authorities by Shiite Muslims.
Rarely seen in public
He is based in Najaf, south of Baghdad, but he avoids public appearances. One of his last known photos is from a meeting with Pope Francis in 2021.
However, he often issues statements that serve as broad policy guidance for his supporters during major events.
For example, in 2014 he issued a religious decree urging Iraqis to mobilize and defend their country against ISIL (ISIS).
The call to arms helped form volunteer paramilitary groups – some linked to Iran – that have contributed significantly to the fight against the extremist group.
Iranian-backed groups now operate as part of a coalition called the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, which has launched drone attacks against Israel as part of a campaign they say is aimed at supporting Palestinians in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
After the Israeli military launched its bombing campaign against Lebanon in late September, al-Sistani’s office condemned what it called Israel’s “brutal aggression” and “savage methods.”
He also called for “all possible efforts to end this ongoing barbaric aggression and protect the Lebanese people from its devastating effects.”
On Wednesday, the Iraqi government criticized the Israeli channel’s broadcast of al-Sistani, calling it a “heinous violation” and warning that it could “widen the circle of danger and violence” in the region.
“We call on the international community to act effectively and take an urgent stance against any call for hatred between peoples,” the Iraqi presidency said in a statement. “We also reaffirm Iraq’s efforts to end the aggression against Palestine and Lebanon.”
