In a shocking development, Grand Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi, a 98-year-old Iranian Shiite leader, has issued a religious decree, or fatwa, calling for the assassination of President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
This alarming call to violence has sent ripples through the international community, raising concerns about the potential implications for global peace and security.
According to Gateway Pundit, the fatwa was reported by the semi-official Iranian news outlet, Mehr News Agency. The agency quoted the Grand Ayatollah's fatwa, stating, "Any person or regime that threatens the Leader or Marja (May God forbid) is considered an enemy of God."
The senior Iranian Shia Marja further added, "any cooperation or support for that enemy by Muslims or Islamic states is haram or forbidden. It is necessary for all Muslims around the world to make these enemies regret their words and mistakes."
The term "Marja" refers to the highest level of Twelver Shia religious cleric, who is given the authority by a seminary to make legal decisions within the confines of Islamic law for followers and clerics below him in rank. The highest-ranking Marji is known as the marja al-mutlaq or marja al-taqlid al-mutlaq. A Marji is usually also a grand ayatollah.
The fatwa was issued in response to perceived threats made by President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu against the Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, and the senior Shiite clerics known as Marja.
The Grand Ayatollah's response to these perceived threats was unequivocal, stating, "It is clear that threatening the leader of the Islamic world, as well as the esteemed sources of emulation, is a war against Islam."
Iran analyst Khosro Isfahani has warned that this fatwa bears a striking resemblance to the one issued against author Salman Rushdie, which led to several attempts on his life, including a 2022 stabbing attack in Chautauqua, New York that left Rushdie gravely wounded and blind in one eye.
Isfahani stated, "This is a Fatwa (religious edict) signed and sealed by a grand ayatollah responding to an Estefta (formal query) directly naming POTUS Trump. In principle similar to murder Fatwa against Salman Rushdie."
The issuance of this fatwa raises serious questions about the future of international relations and the potential for escalated conflict. It also underscores the importance of maintaining a strong stance against such threats to global peace and security.
The international community must remain vigilant and united in the face of such threats, and work towards fostering dialogue and understanding to prevent the escalation of violence. The preservation of individual freedom and the upholding of traditional values are paramount in these challenging times.
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