GRAND AYATOLLAH FAYYADH ON ELECTIONS

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 002661 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/19/2018 TAGS: PGOV PREL KISL IZ SUBJECT: GRAND AYATOLLAH FAYYADH ON ELECTIONS Classified By: PolMinCouns Robert S. Ford for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) On August 4, senior Shi'a cleric Grand Ayatollah Mohammed Ishaq al-Fayyadh issued a statement asserting his neutrality in the upcoming provincial elections, claiming that he did not support any list or favor any particular party. Lamenting the disappointing performance of the parties that were elected in the 2005 provincial elections, Fayyadh urged all Iraqis to participate in the upcoming elections, claiming that if they do not, "the parties that have exploited the nation and its potential will be the sole beneficiaries." He also instructed Iraqis to "elect reputable and competent candidates," and not to fall for "unrealistic promises, rhetorical slogans, and empty propaganda." In addition, Fayyad said that the Najaf-based hawza should remain independent from the government and political parties, and requested that Iraq's political parties refrain from using religious symbols in the next provincial elections. ¶2. (C) Comment: Though Fayyadh's August 4 statement echoes comments made over the last few months by Grand Ayatollah Sistani's representatives, Sheikh Abd al-Mahdi al-Karbala'i and Sayyid Ahmed al-Safi, it is significant that a member of the marja'iyya would issue such a statement directly. Given the past statements of Sistani's representatives, it may be assumed that Fayyadh's missive was intended to dispel any doubts or ambiguity about the marja'iyya's position in the leadup to the provincial elections, particularly regarding the use of religious symbols and images. If this is the case, it appears clear that in contrast to the 2005 elections, when the marja'iyya played an active role and were viewed by many as kingmakers, the higher religious authority has decided to take a neutral position in the upcoming elections. CROCKER