Top Iraqi cleric warns of 'foreign influence' in elections

Updated on: 05 May,2018 11:28 AM IST | Baghdad
AP |

Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani's message, delivered by his representative Sheikh Abdul-Mahdi al-Karbala after Friday prayers in Karbala, emphasizes that Iraq's Shiite religious leadership does not support any one candidate or party

vote Representational Image

Iraq's top Shiite cleric has warned that "foreign influence" in the upcoming national elections could undermine the country's ability to carry out a free and fair vote.

Sistani is also calling on all Iraqis to vote in the elections, scheduled for May 12, but says voters should not be award to Iraqi officials currently in office who have proven to be ineffective or corrupt.

Sistani is one of the most respected voices in Iraq and after a fatwa he issued in 2014 that mobilised thousands to fight the Islamic State group, he launched a campaign against government corruption.

Catch up on all the latest Crime, National, International and Hatke news here. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates

This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.

"Exciting news! Mid-day is now on WhatsApp Channels