Local
Sayyid Sadr al-Din al-Qabbanji, Imam of the Friday Prayer in Najaf Ashraf, urged the Iraqi government to take a firm stance against what he described as Israeli violations of Iraqi airspace, considering it a breach of national sovereignty and a violation of international laws and the sanctity of Iraqi sentiments. During the Friday sermon, al-Qabbanji praised the initiative to host Iraqi female students in Azerbaijan, commending the efforts of Najaf Ashraf Governorate in supporting Islamic peoples, and proposed organizing solidarity rallies with the Azerbaijani people in schools and universities. He highlighted the emergence of religious anthems in primary schools, expressing gratitude to those responsible for these initiatives and school administrations. On the security front, al-Qabbanji confirmed that official reports indicate Israeli airspace violations over Iraq, calling on the government to take serious measures to address this breach. Locally, he pointed to protests in the city of Amarah against the closure of the Al-Shaib border crossing, which caused economic harm to those affected. Al-Qabbanji demanded the government clarify the reasons behind the crossing's closure, noting that the lack of an acceptable explanation has led to negative perceptions, and viewed the decision as a restriction on travelers and an attempt to pressure Iran. He expressed solidarity with the people of Amarah in their demands to reopen the crossing or provide a suitable alternative, emphasizing the need to explain the closure to the public. Regionally, he referred to Egypt's military support for Saudi Arabia against the Houthis, mentioning protests in Egypt calling for the resignation of President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and rejecting alignment against the Houthis. Internationally, he discussed the deterioration of security, political, and economic conditions, describing the rise of popular sentiments in Europe rejecting Western dominance. He saw these developments as reflecting a political and economic defeat in the confrontation between the United States and Iran, which has led to rising prices. He noted that the world faces the risk of collapse of the global system under American hegemony. Additionally, he addressed the former U.S. president's mockery of the Prophet Muhammad's name, considering it a sign of Islam's spread and the increasing Islamic awareness confronting global arrogance.
