But several Islamic scholars have noted that Ayatollah Sistani was not a high-level cleric in a vast network of Shiite clerics, many of whom have been supported by the regime in Baghdad<
Um actually Ayatollah Seestani is a Marjae Taqleed world over for the Shias. A comparable Marjae Taqleed would be Ayatollah Khamenai. I don't know if this was pointed out or not seeing as most here would be unfamiliar with this whole concept but since Agha Seestani's "ruling" was not a religious edict, it is not a fatwa. He does however I think stand by his claims of allowing the Shias to stand for their defense if and when they view it as necessary this is the reason he was under house arrest by the forces.
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*Originally posted by mufakkar: *
I haven't questioned the veracity of the story, I was just showing my surprise at how you guys have this new found love for shias. Do you even know who they are and what they stand for? I wonder how long it will be for these guys to turn into those "goddamned shi'ites" once the media starts featuring organisations like Hizbbollah preparing for the next attack on Iran and/or Syria...I wonder how "brave" these people shall remain in your eyes if they ever voice support for the above.
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You have a tendency to believe people should all be classified and categorized generally pursuant to a single shared trait. I have no love nor hate for anyone merely because he/she happens to be shi'ite. To be sure I dislike and repudiate Hizbbollah. But not because its members are Shia. Rather, because its members are terrorists. I wouldn't condemn all Shias because of Hizbbollah.
Since the majority population in Iraq is Shi'ite, I think it is significant that the most senior Shi'ite cleric in Iraq issued the fatwa that has been reported. Since he has been under house arrest by Saddam and since he knows firsthand the brutality that has been inflicted upon dissident Shias by Saddam, I find his statement to be brave and courageous. If this same guy issues a fatwa in support of Hizbbollah suicide bombings inside Israel, I'll disagree with it. It won't change the fact that I believe him to be brave and courageous in this instance.
The statement by the other Shi'ite cleric, Abdul Hussein al-Quzweini, that I cited below is also very welcome. But, I don't think it is as brave and courageous because it was issued while he was warm and comfortable in Kuwait.
To be sure I dislike and repudiate Hizbbollah because its members are terrorists.<
I think that was a typo. Surely you meant Likud and its supporters are terrorists, not Hizbollah?
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Shame on you. Is your thinking so contained and constrained within the box that you can not foresee the possibility that both could be terrorists? Must it be one or the other?
Shame on you. Is your thinking so contained and constrained within the box that you can not foresee the possibility that both could be terrorists? Must it be one or the other?
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I am ashamed i had to mention Hizbollah and the terrorist group in the same sentence. :( Shias recognise the legitimacy of Hizbollah. I hope you stand by your claim of non condemnation. I am encouraged by your about turn from "hizbollah are terrorists" to "could be terrorists". :)
Did anyone watch fox yesterday? The Shiites were close to murdering the American Troops. I think Their Shiite leader Seestani stop the people from massacring the Americans
Give me the definition of a terrorist organisation in real terms and then we'll see who fits the bill. You'll be surprised at the outcome.
Please utilise substance with your definition.
As far as your statement concerning Muslims turning on their own. Wishful thinking. Or should I say Programmed thinking?
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*Originally posted by google: *
Did anyone watch fox yesterday? The Shiites were close to murdering the American Troops. I think Their Shiite leader Seestani stop the people from massacring the Americans
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I think it was CNN not Fox. The Shi'ites got upset when they thought the US troops were heading for the mosque. In fact, they were heading for the cleric's house to secure his safety. He was, after all, under arrest and guard by Saddam's troops. The troops knew what they were doing and the cleric knew what they were doing. The Shias did not. Once the information got disseminated, problem over.