Iraq's prominent Shia cleric, Grand Ayatollah Seyyed Ali al-Sistani, has called for the implementation of real reform in a bid to prevent untoward consequences, including a possible partition of the country.
According to Press TV, Grand Ayatollah Sistani said in a written statement from his office in holy city of Najaf on Thursday "Today, if true reform is not realized by fighting corruption without mercy and realizing social justice on different levels, it is expected that circumstances will become worse than before."
He added that Iraq could be "dragged to... partition and the like, God forbid."
The top cleric further noted that corruption has taken a heavy toll on Iraq in the fight against the ISIL Takfiri terrorist group.
Ayatollah Sistani pointed out the terrorist organization would not have been able to control swathes of the Iraqi territory without endemic corruption, especially in security forces, and the misappropriation of power by senior authorities.
On August 14, the top Iraqi Shia cleric voiced his support for a recent set of reforms by the country’s Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, however, saying that more such measures are needed to eradicate corruption in the country.
Grand Ayatollah Sistani said “We appreciate the reform package, and hope that these decisions are implemented in the near future.”
The Iraqi parliament unanimously approved Abadi’s proposals aimed at uprooting corruption and reducing government costs on August 11.
