Seems that Guppys are rather cynical about the elections in Iraq. Perhaps Pakistanis are not very in tune with the views of Shia, perhaps they don’t care. Perhaps their hatred for the US overshaddows the will of their brothers. For some time I have been following the discussion of the elections on other bulletin boards. As Gupshup rules do not allow linking to other bulletin boards, I have lifted some choice quotes. When you read the posts, it is immediately evident that this vote is extraordinarily important to the Shia.
Start with this one:
"Assalam Alaikum
The vote is Wajib Shar’i on All Iraqis. And for the love of Allah (SWT), for once, let not our hatred for America and Israel blind our compassion and care for our Iraqi brothers and sisters (we are all one) who have been suffering brutally for over 35 years now."
Most believe that Ayatolla Sistani has mandated the vote:
"Salam Alaikum
CORRECTION:
I asked one of the representatives of His Eminence Grand Ayatullah Sayed Al-Sistani (HA) about this fatwa, he explained it to me and said that voting itself is wajib (obligatory) and not voting to any list but to the United Iraqi Alliance only is obligatory also
BECAUSE there is no use of registering without voting, If you want to register then you want to vote, This is the only purpose for it. Therefore voting is obligatory too.
About voting for the United Iraqi Alliance only is because Al-Marji’iyah Al-Diniyyah in the holy city of Najaf finds out that this list is for the benefit of Islam and therefore not voting for it is against the benefit of Islam which is haram.
If you voted another list, you will hold the responsibility in the Day of Judgement for voting to this list for every act they do but if you vote for the United Iraqi Alliance, the responsibility will be on Al-Marji’iyah Al-Diniyyah because we have to follow them and their command was to vote for this list so that’s what we will do.
The obligation is to everybody who is able to vote, not only to few because each vote has a value and one vote can reserve a seat for the United Iraqi Alliance or not. So don’t be lazy to go to register your name and go again or stay their until voting time."
Most seem to believe that the list of “169” has been endorsed by Sistani:
“so its actually WAJIB to vote for 169? i thought it was just recommended by Sayed Sistani. I mean there r quite a few other groups with good shia candidates…if everyone votes 169 then the others wouldn’t get a voice.”
Ex Pats all over the world are trying to get to polling places:
"Assalam alaikum,
Sis.. there’re no polls in NZ?
Would you be able to vote if you flew here? If yes then it’s the perfect excuse to come to Sydney for a few days .. Let me know if you need a room, ana b’khedmetik sis."
Some are trying to explain the platform of the “169”, the group of candidates endorsed by Sistani:
"Assalam Alaikum wa Rahmatullah
This is from a relative of mine that he received from a close bro of his
I’m sure you’re aware of the grave security situation in Iraq, for this reason a full list of names has not been published. However, the make-up of the list with the most prominent members on it is as follows:
-
The list is split more or less 50/50 between political parties and independents
-
The list does not only contain Shia’ candidates but Sunni, Kurd, Turkoman,
Christian, Sabian, Chaldean, and even Yazidi representatives. -
The most prominent political parties include:
o Hizb al-Da’wa al-Islamiyya حزب الدعوة الإسلامية] (Head: Ibrahim al-Ja’fari)
o The Supreme Council المجلس الأعلى للثورة الإسلامية] (Head: Abdul Aziz al-Hakim)
o Iraqi National Congress المؤتمر الوطني العراق] (Head: Ahmed Chalabi)
o Hizb al-Da’wa al-Islamiyya in Iraq حزب الدعوة الإسلامية تنظيم العراق] (Head: Abd al-
Kareem al-‘Anzi)
o The Islamic Union of Iraqi Turkoman الاتحاد الإسلامي لتركمان العراق] (Head: Abbas al-
Bayyati)
o Hizb al-Fathileh al-Islamiyya حزب الفضيلة الإسلامي] (Head: Nadeem al-Jabiri)
o Islamic Union of Iraqi Faylee Kurd الاتحاد الإسلامي لكرد العراق الفيليين] (Head: Tha’ir al-
Faylee)
o Islamic Movement for Democracy التيار الإسلامي الديمقراطي] (Include: Hussein ‘Adili and
Muhammad adbul Jabar al-Shubut) – Prominent Islamic Intellectuals.
o Also political parties of Sunnis, Kurds, Christians, etc.
You can regard this list as a:
- Shia list
- Inclusive and non-sectarian
- With an Islamist orientation
- on a platform of social Justice
- against violence and extremism
- A genuine and credible voice of a new Iraq
- Independent of all-Foreign influences
- With regard for independent and strong national governance
- Open to all Iraqi citizens
- With a strong emphasis on National unity and territorial integrity"
In short, the Anti-US crowd at Gupshup has concluded that the elections in Iraq are somehow a US concoction. The Shia certainly don’t believe this. To them this election appears to be an event that has taken 35 years to achieve. It is important to them, and God bless them, to vote the average Iraqi will have to risk his life, and put his family at risk. It is striking how cavalier Pakistanis are, safely nestled into western countries, while people far braver fight for their country and their beliefs. Perhaps Guppies should look beyond their anti-US obsession and read what their brothers are writing…