Iraq Protests: Sayyed Sistani Calls on Demonstrators to Remain Peaceful

By Staff, Agencies

Iraq’s top Shia Cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani on Friday called on protesters and security forces to keep anti-government demonstrations peaceful.

“Real reform and change in the country has to be through peaceful methods,” his representative, Sayyed Abdul-Mahdi al-Karbalaei said during a sermon in the Iraqi holy city of Karbala.

Sayyed al-Sistani, who rarely weighs in on politics except in times of crisis, said that security forces must not allow attacks on public and private property.