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The ouster of Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki could be an “important part” of the solution to the political crisis in Iraq, a spokesman for top Shi’ite cleric Grand Ayatollah Bashir al-Najafi said. This is the first time any of the revered Shi’ite clerics in the nation have explicitly called for Maliki’s removal, and is one of several recent announcements that indicate a more active nationwide role for the usually aloof clergy.
The immediate formation of an inclusive government is seen by many as an important step in countering the onslaught of Islamic State (IS) militants, which began last month, who had exploited resentment fuelled by Iraq’s fractious and ineffectual political leaders.
“That’s part of the solution. An important part.This is the point of view of the marja al-Najafi”,Sheikh Ali al-Najafi, spokesman for his father Grand Ayatollah Bashir al-Najafi, said on Monday, referring to Maliki’s removal. A ‘marja’ refers to one of the four top Shi’ite clerics in Iraq, collectively known as the marjaiya. The senior most marja, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, through a spokesman has already urged for “the formation an effective government that is acceptable on a … national level (and) avoids past mistakes”. The statement, given on June 20th, didn’t call for the removal of Maliki, but has been seen as an implicit criticism of the leader considered by many as divisive and sectarian.
Maliki, who was elected as Prime Minister in 2006, vowed to return to office for a third time after his coalition dominated the April elections, but ethnic Kurds, Sunni Arabs and even a few Shi’ites, have demanded for his replacement. Earlier, Sistani had announced a call to arms against the invading IS insurgents, the marjaiya’s first such call in 90 years, despite several decades of war in Iraq.
“Now the marjaiya sees a real sustained danger for Iraq, and that Iraq could collapse within hours or days, and needs a stand from all its people to protect the unity of the country”, Najafi said.