The full text of the Friday sermon: The Supreme Religious Authority affirms strongly that it is only biased towards the people and defends only its interests.

The Supreme Religious Authority has strongly affirmed that it is only biased towards the people and defends only its interests, and has no interest or special relationship with any party in power. And it affirms what it stated in April 2006 when the government formed aftermath of the first elections for the House of Representatives: "It has not and will not compromise nobody in public interests of Iraqi people. It monitors the government performance and points to its imbalances when necessary. Its voice will remain with the voices of the oppressed and disenfranchised from the citizens of this people, wherever they are, without distinction between their affiliations, sects and ethnicities..."

These were the main points stated in the second sermon of Friday prayer of the 12th Safar 1441 AH, corresponding to October 11, 2019, which was held in the holy shrine of Imam al-Hussayn (peace be upon him), and led by his eminence Sheikh Abd al-Mahdi al-Karbala'i, in which he stated:

Dear brothers and sisters, we will read the text we have received from the office of his eminence the supreme religious authority in Najaf:

In the sermon of last Friday, the Religious Authority reiterated its condemnation and rejection of the attacks on peaceful demonstrators and several members of the security orces during the protests in the country the previous week. It has also condemned the burning and destruction of some government institutions and private properties during these demonstrations. And it expressed its hope that everyone would be aware of the serious consequences of the use of violence and counter-violence in the ongoing protest movement in the country, which should be avoided in any case.

But what has happened in the following days is the unprecedented escalation of violence, targeting increasing number of demonstrators who has been shot, and blatant attacks on some media to prevent them reporting what is happening in the demonstrations.

While the official authorities announced that they had issued strict orders to prevent the security forces from firing live bullets at the demonstrators, thousands of them fell among a martyr and wounded in Baghdad, Nasiriyah, Diwaniyah and others, by being directly shot in full view of many, in horrific scenes of extreme cruelty that demonstrates an unfettered violence that goes beyond all limits of the imagination.

The government and its security forces are responsible for the bloodshed - both of innocent citizens and the security elements charged with dealing with them - during the demonstrations of the past days, and cannot shirk bearing this great responsibility.

It is responsible when some members of the security forces use excessive violence against demonstrators, albeit because of their lack of discipline and compliance with orders issued to them, or because they are not qualified and trained to deal with popular protests so as to avoid casualties among the participants.

It is responsible when, under the eye of law enforcement, protesters are fired on illegally and media are beaten or attacked to terrorise their employees.

It is responsible when its security agents do not protect citizens, government institutions, and private property from attacks by a small number of the intruders in the protestations who did not want them to remain peaceful and free from violence.

The religious authority strongly condemns the shedding of innocent blood and grave attacks in its various forms. It expresses its sympathy with the families of the martyrs and the wounded and affirms its solidarity with the legitimate demands of peaceful protesters - as demonstrated in the demonstrations of previous years -. It demands strongly the government and the Judiciary to conduct a credible investigation into what happened in the demonstration yards, and then disclose to the public opinion the elements that ordered or started shooting at demonstrators or others, and do not hesitate to pursue, arrest and bring them to justice whatever are their affiliations and positions. This should be done within a specified period - for example, two weeks - without procrastination, as was the announcement of the results of the investigative committees in previous cases.

This is the most important and urgent measure of the current time, which reveals the seriousness and sincerity of the Government's intention to make strides in real reform. As it will not be possible to proceed with any reform project - as required to combat financial and administrative corruption and achieve a degree of social justice - unless the prestige of the state is imposed, security is controlled are in accordance with its legal contexts, and prevent encroachment on public and private freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution, and put an end to threats, beatings, abductions, sniper fire and violence by those who believe they can act with total impunity.

The Supreme Religious Authority has no interest or special relationship with any party in power and is only biased towards the people and defends only its interests. And it affirms what it stated in April 2006 when the government formed aftermath of the first elections for the House of Representatives: "It has not and will not compromise nobody in public interests of Iraqi people. It monitors the government performance and points to its imbalances when necessary. Its voice will remain with the voices of the oppressed and disenfranchised from the citizens of this people, wherever they are, without distinction between their affiliations, sects and ethnicities..."

And there's no might nor power except in Allah Almighty.