Shiite Cleric al-Sistani Forbids Iraqis From Selling Food To Americans

Dick Cheney infamously said in March of 2003 that when the U.S. invades Iraq, "we will be greeted as liberators." As the Iraq War enters its 6th year, Cheney's assertion has been shown to be clearly false, with the U.S. battling a largely homegrown, Sunni insurgency and Shiite militias. In a sign of just how opposed some Shiite groups are to the U.S.'s presence in Iraq, one of the country's most powerful Shiite clerics, Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, has issued a fatwa forbidding Iraqis from selling food to Americans (from Juan Cole):

Fars News reproduces in Persian on May 24, 2008, another anti-American fatwa by Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani of Najaf. It says that its correspondent in Najaf reports that an Iraqi Shiite submitted the following to Sistani:

'I sell foodstuffs. Sometimes the Occupying Powers or their associates come to my establishment. May I sell them foodstuffs?'

Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani replied:

' Selling foodstuffs to the Occupying Powers is not permitted.'

Cole identifies another reason why this fatwa is important:

This fatwa is significant in light of the reports that Sistani has been orally permitting attacks on US troops by Shiite militiamen loyal to the Shiite religious authorities in Najaf.

Think Progress notes that McCain also made predictions that the Iraq War would be "easy."

Comments

[uvymopkq]

Do the Shiite groups make pizza? If not ...why do we care.

[grn1]

It couild be that when my son had no MRE's for several days, Iraqi's fed him. That is why I care. Yeah I know "They hate us for what we have......­..........­........ that's theirs.

[Viper]

III. Update: ”Sistani does not issue fatwa allowing armed resistance against foreign troops in Iraq“, Aswat al Iraq (Voices of Iraq), 23 May 2008. Hat tip to Gateway Pundit — Excerpt:
May 24th.
A close source to grand ayatollah Ali Sistani’s office on Friday denied news agencies’ reports the Shiite cleric issued a fatwa permiting taking up weapons to drive the foreign occupation forces out of Iraq. “The reports of issuing fatwa by the Shiite cleric Sistani permiting taking up arms to drive foreign troops out of Iraq were baseless”.

… The source, a cleric from Karbala associated with Sistani office, pointed out “Sistani’s stance is clear since toppling the former regime (of Saddam Hussein) by calling for sticking to civil resistance to drive foreign troops out of Iraq”.


Regards

[Viper]

II. Fars News (24 May 2008) — In Persian. A fatwa by Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani of Najaf:

Question: “I sell foodstuffs. Sometimes the Occupying Powers or their associates come to my establishment. May I sell them foodstuffs?”

Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani replied: ”Selling foodstuffs to the Occupying Powers is not permitted.”

III. “Ayatollah will not allow US-Iraq deal“, Press TV (24 May 2008) — “Iraq’s most revered Shia cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani has strongly objected to a ’security accord’ between the US and Iraq.” Press TV is the first Iranian international news network, broadcasting in English 24/7.

The Grand Ayatollah has reiterated that he would not allow Iraq to sign such a deal with “the US occupiers” as long as he was alive, a source close to Ayatollah Sistani said. The source added the Grand Ayatollah had voiced his strong objection to the deal during a meeting with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki in the holy city of Najaf on Thursday.

The remarks were made amid reports that the Iraqi government might sign a long-term framework agreement with the United States, under which Washington would be allowed to set up permanent military bases in the country and US citizens would be granted immunity from legal prosecution in the country.

[Viper]

Is al-Sistani Simmering?

Nick Gillespie | May 23, 2008, 6:36am

More good news from Iraq:

Iraq's most influential Shiite cleric has been quietly issuing religious edicts declaring that armed resistance against U.S.-led foreign troops is permissible—a potentially significant shift by a key supporter of the Washington-backed government in Baghdad.

The edicts, or fatwas, by Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani suggest he seeks to sharpen his long-held opposition to American troops and counter the populist appeal of his main rivals, firebrand Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr and his Mahdi Army militia....

A senior aide to the prime minister, [Nouri] al-Maliki, said he was not aware of the fatwas, but added that the "rejection of the occupation is a legal and religious principle" and that top Shiite clerics were free to make their own decisions. The aide also spoke on condition of anonymity.

[asemaany]

that's not true

[Viper]

Powerful Iraqi cleric flirting with Shiite militant message," by Hamza Hendawi and Qassim Abdul-Zahra for the Associated Press, May 22:

BAGHDAD - Iraq's most influential Shiite cleric has been quietly issuing religious edicts declaring that armed resistance against U.S.-led foreign troops is permissible — a potentially significant shift by a key supporter of the Washington-backed government in Baghdad.
The edicts, or fatwas, by Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani suggest he seeks to sharpen his long-held opposition to American troops and counter the populist appeal of his main rivals, firebrand Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr and his Mahdi Army militia.

[BlackbirdHighway]

Our troops should be wearing the logos of Exxon and Chevron-Texaco. That's who they are really fighting for.

[DesertLight]

That is a pretty demeaning statement, especially on a day like this. I am sure all those units that lost brothers in arms would love to hear that as well.

[dadw5boys]

Don't sweat it we who have served respect his right to speak. Many of us also feel the same way.

Wornder why you don't understand this.

See why here. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUoYAj7Nosg

[Nyland8]

What is demeaning is reducing our once proud fighting forces to a bunch of underpaid mercenaries - which is what the neo-conman policies have done.

When they enlisted, they took an oath to protect our constitution. This means that the only reasons they should be called to war would be in direct defense of our nation, in support of some pre-existing treaty, or as part of a huge multi-lateral force under UN auspices.

Iraq does not qualify for any of those criteria. It is a rogue action by a run amok regime in the White House.

And THAT is demeaning to our fighting forces. Their actions are not in service to America. They serve the few, at the expense of the many and for the ultimate safety of no one.

8

[qofdisks]

yes it is demeaning. that is the point.

[indypete]

A buddy of mine who volunteered in the Vietnam era once said to me, "If I'd known I was fighting for the weapons dealers, I wouldn't have gone." These kids either joined up out of patriotism or economic need (it's a job with bennies, after all) and a statement of the truth is hardly demeaning to them. It is, however (and rightly so), demeaning to those who send them into harms way for all the wrong reasons. My heart goes out to every one of those poor bastards sweltering in the desert but I have nothing but contempt for the fat boys in their ivory towers that sent them.

[SadButWiser]

May be no the troops. The President and his men should be the ones wearing the logos.

[DesertLight]

In case it hasn't been mentioned already, our troops were not eating their food anyway due to the possibility of mass poisoning.

[HumeSkeptic]

And that also tells us that our troops are not wanted there. Iraqis want them out of there, and rightfully so.

[DesertLight]

You mean simply because Ali-Sustani ( Iranian born Persian puppet) said so?

[dadw5boys]

Yeah eating what KBR serves would make anyone sick. Food cooked with POLLUTED WATER!!!!!

[mellene]

With the billions of tax-payer dollars dropped each week into Iraq, what the heck does it matter if Iraq sells food to Americans!!!! They can just have their food brought in through Halliburton, KBR etc. Why not create some more profit for those mega corporations that aren't even headquarter any longer in America.

[DesertLight]

"those mega corporations that aren't even headquarter any longer in America.'

With the EPA, excessive taxing and anti-big corporation sentiment in this country, it is no wonder why companies are choosing to do business elsewhere.

[Nyland8]

" ... it is no wonder why companies are choosing to do business elsewhere."

Uh ... no. That's not even close. The decision to do business elsewhere is based on profit - not sentiment. Much of the rest of the world is simply more exploitable.

8

[McSameisthegame]

,,,but---who will liberate US????

[edva]

January 09 we'll be liberated from this S O B.

[HumeSkeptic]

To Our Troops:
----------------

Recipe:

Timman (Iraqi-Style Rice)

Ingredients :

3 cup Jasmine rice
4 tbl Olive oil


Method :
Wash rice in cool water and drain. In a large pot, put in rice with water to cover by 3-4". Bring to boil and cook for 6 minutes. Test by biting a grain of rice: The outside should be soft but the inside still hard. Transfer rice to a sieve and rinse. Add oil to the pot and put wet rice back in. Place a kitchen towel over the pot and replace the lid. Cook on low heat for 45-55 minutes, or until fluffy.
At the bottom of the pot a crunchy layer will form that is everyone's part.
Makes 10-12 servings.
----------­----------­----------­-----


You are welcome.

[relikx]

The US is in the midst of legitimizing the occupation for the next decade with a new accord.

http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=55213&sectionid=3510303

It's good to know the sacrifices were worth it to prop up a "democratic" puppet regime.

No surprise the Shi'ites and Iran feel uneasy about this neo-colonial agreement .

[vinny]

Fighting the People you Liberated, Way to Go America...

[CrushInfamy]

It truly takes a dumbass to place Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld in charge of a War!

Dick Cheney used 5 draft deferments to avoid going to war and Donald Rumsfeld served in the U.S. Navy (1954-57) as an aviator and flight instructor. I think we could easily find Cub-Scouts with more war-time experience!

Unbelievable. Dick and Rummie are best friends to this day. I wonder if they sit around counting the millions they made in Iraq, drinking and laughing about the 4,000 plus dead soldiers they sent over that were hardly greeted as liberators?

Hmmmmmmmm? I wonder???

[HumeSkeptic]

It sounds strange because it is a "fatwa" from a cleric. In essense, that's what any patriot opposing a foreign occupier would do.

[cruisepuppy7452a]

Of course this story is false, look who wrote it. Guys, read between the lines here. Bush needs to keep this war going any way he can. He is going to demonize iraq so we keep up the anger, hatred against them, Bush knows they are not the enemy to the US. The reasons for this war are falling apart at the seams faster than a cat pulling on a sweater. Rove is under the spotlight, and the GOP is losing ground. Bush has to create draMA to make it look like Iraq is the enemy, Iran is the enemy. This is about oil and profit, nothing more. Neither has WMD, both have the legal right to protect themselves, as any country does, but unless we make it look like they are the evil bastards, the war will end. Bush can't have that. Its as false as a 3 dollar bill.

[EinChicago]

If the commercial exchange of foodstuffs between US/Irtaqis is not permitted, then we should obviously cut off any and all food shipments/exports to Iraq of US grown foods.

[HumeSkeptic]

We have already done much worse. We have destroyed their country, cause hundreds of thousand dead and injured, imprisoned tens of thousand, made millions homeless, and tortured who knows how many - and to a people who never did us any harm.

[EinChicago]

Hogwash. A ssomeone with nephews orphaned by the sub human scum in Iraq, they did plenty of harm. Turn the entire area into glass and start from scratch.