Saudi religious decree on destroying Shiite sites denounced by Iranians
Saudi Arabia-Iran, Politics, 7/23/2007

Iranian Grand Ayatollah Lotfollah Safi Golpayegani, one of Shiite sources of jurisprudence in Holy Qom today strongly denounced a religious decree issued by some Saudi Mufties (religious figures) to destroy Shiite holy sites.

The muftis called on their followers living in Iraq to destroy holy shrines of Imam Hussein (AS) and Hazrat-e Abbas, according to the Iranian news agency IRNA.

Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia and some other leading Wahhabi muftis have reportedly endorsed a fatwa allowing for the destruction of Shiite holy shrines of Imam Hossein (AS) and his brother Hazrat Abbas (AS) in Karbala, Iraq, and of their sister Hazrat Zeinab (SA) in Damascus, Syria, the English-language newspaper "Iran Daily" wrote on its front page on Sunday. Iran Daily is published by IRNA.

In the decree first released before the second attack on Samarra shrines, Wahhabis are asked to destroy all signs of "polytheism" in Iraqi cities, an implicit reference to the Shiite shrines, Iran Daily further reported. "The shrine of (Imam) Hossein in Karbala, as one of the main symbols of Shiites, should be destroyed," the decree said.

Also, Ayatollah Nasser Makarem Shirazi and Ayatollah Hossein Nouri Hamedani said in separate statements that the Saudi government is responsible for stopping the extremist muftis from waging propaganda campaign against the Infallible Household of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH).

The Iranian religious leaders called for dialogue with the extremist Wahhabis in a bid to thwart the conspiracy to damage the Muslim solidarity.

Meantime, In a communiqué issued by Ayatollah Golpayegani's Office, it read, "Saudi Arabia has unfortunately been turned into a school for nurturing terrorism and supporting the terrorist, promoting an inauthentic version of Islam, and this recent verdict issued by Saudi terrorism worshiper Mufties is strongly denounced."

Safi Golpayegani has in the communiqué reiterated, "The alert Muslims of the world, prominent Islamic World Alims, scientific and university societies, elites, and statesmen of the important Islamic countries should know that the dark minded, deviated Wahhabi sect has today after a whole century of hatching anti-Islamic plots, got weaker than ever before, and more ill-famed in the eyed of the world Muslims, which is the reason why it has begun killing, massacring, destroying, and committing all types of other corrupt behaviors."

He adds, "The brutal acts committed by this corrupt clan has led to the creation of a very negative image of Islam and the world Muslims in the eyes of the world nations, horrifying and intimidating the innocent human beings, while the dear Islam is the religion of peace, brotherhood, and all-encompassing love of God for His entire creatures."

The Grand Ayatollah stresses, "This gang of the few that is most unfortunately in charge of Islam's two holiest shrines today, has turned those sacred places to the cradle for terrorism, exporting terrorists to Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and lately also to other countries, such as Lebanon, Algeria, and wherever they can, in a bid to flicker the flames of sectarian and civil wars here and there."

He reiterated, "In fact this small sect is seriously threatening the world peace and security today."

Iran's government spokesman Gholam-Hossein Elham said yesterday while commenting on the Fatwa (religious decree) that the world's arrogant powers are seeking to add fuel to sectarian and racial disputes among Muslims, (religious order) by Wahhabites to demolish holy sites and shrines in Muslim states.

"Such measures are taken outside the region," said the spokesman addressing reporters at his weekly press briefing. Referring to the measures made by Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, the spokesman said "Riyadh is itself under the threats of seditious thoughts .. If such thoughts are followed by terrorist acts and violence, then it will be harmful to everyone."

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