The Supreme Religious Authority confirms the necessity for weapons to be submitted to the State's authority.

The representative of the supreme religious authority; Sayed Ahmad al-Safi read during the sermon of the Friday prayer of the 16th Rabi’ Thani 1441 AH corresponding to December 13, 2019, held at the holy shrine of Imam al-Hussayn (peace be upon him) the text received from the office of the supreme religious authority in Najaf; his eminence Sayed al-Sistani in Najaf, in which he stated:

“This sad event and what was repeated in the recent days from the killings and kidnappings that took place within the past few days re-affirm what the Supreme Religious Authority repeatedly called for that all weapons must be possessed by the government, and no group — under any heading, outside the scope of the government — is allowed to be armed.

The country’s stability and maintaining civil peace are contingent on disarming the armed groups, which we hope to happen as a result of the current reform movement.”