A leading Iranian cleric based in the city of Qom followed by Iraqi militants linked to the Iranian regime has issued the first public religious edict permitting his followers to fight in Syria’s alongside the Syrian dictator Bashar Assad’s forces, Associated Press reported.
Kazim Al-Haeri, one of the mentors of Iraqi cleric Muqtada Al-Sadr, comes as thousands of Iraqi fighters play a major role in killing the Syrians who oppose Bashar Assad.
Asked by a follower whether it is legitimate to travel to Syria to fight, Al-Haeri replied: “The battle in Syria … is a battle of infidels against Islam and Islam should be defended. Fighting in Syria is legitimate and those who die are martyrs,” Al-Haeri said in comments posted on his official website.
An official confirmed that the comments are authentic.