CNN
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Here’s a take a look at the lifetime of Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, Iraq’s maximum influential Shiite cleric.

Birth date: August 4, 1930

Birth position: Mashhad, Iran

Birth identify: Sayyid Ali Husaini Sistani

Father: Sayyid Mohammad Baqir, a non secular student

Mother: Name unavailable publicly

Marriage: Information unavailable publicly

Children: Muhammad Rida al-Sistani – eldest son. Total choice of youngsters unavailable publicly.

Religion: Shiite Muslim

He is a member of a well known circle of relatives of spiritual students and started learning on the age of five.

Al-Sistani has written many books and treatises on Islamic regulation and existence.

During Saddam Hussein’s regime, Sistani used to be underneath area arrest for a few years.

Rarely does interviews or is noticed in public.

1952 – Sistani strikes to the holy town of Najaf, Iraq, to check with Shiite clerics there.

1990 – Is selected by way of different non secular figures to guide a very powerful community of colleges in Najaf.

September 2002 – Issues his first political fatwa, urging Muslims to unite and shield Iraq in opposition to outdoor aggressors.

April 2003 – Sistani’s area arrest is lifted after the US-led invasion of Iraq. Sistani problems his 2d political fatwa, urging the Iraqi folks to stay impartial and to not intervene with the United States forces.

June 3, 2004 – Sistani endorses the brand new Iraqi govt. Says the brand new govt lacks “legitimacy of elections” and does now not constitute “in an appropriate approach all segments of Iraqi society and political forces. … Nevertheless, it’s was hoping that this govt will turn out its potency and integrity and display unravel to hold out the large duties that relaxation on its shoulders.”

August 3-26, 2004 – Fighting engulfs town of Najaf. Militiamen dependable to Iraqi cleric Muqtada al-Sadr combat US forces for regulate of the world.

August 6, 2004 – Sistani, who seldom leaves his house in Najaf, travels to London for remedy for center issues.

August 25, 2004 – Sistani returns to Iraq and starts negotiating a ceasefire in Najaf. Before his go back he asks all Iraqis to “march to Najaf as a way to rescue town.”

August 26, 2004 – Arrives at his house in Najaf, the place he and Sadr reach an agreement to put an end to the violence in the region.

February 13, 2005 – The result of Iraq’s January 30, 2005, election are launched. Sistani’s United Iraqi Alliance is available in first, with greater than 4 million votes.

December 2008 – Sistani endorses the Iraqi govt and US army troop withdrawal proposal.

January 2009 – Releases a observation urging Iraqis to vote within the upcoming provincial elections however states that he’s now not endorsing any applicants.

March 2011 – To specific his dissatisfaction with Iraqi political leaders, Sistani refuses to satisfy with them.

March 2013 – Sistani problems a fatwa prohibiting dropping Iraqi blood, specifically Sunni blood.

June 13, 2014 – Through his consultant, Sistani appeals to his followers to join the security forces in preventing ISIS militants. “Citizens who are able to bear arms and fight terrorists … should volunteer and join the security forces to achieve this holy purpose.

May 11, 2018 – Ahead of the primary parliamentary elections for the reason that defeat of ISIS, Sistani urges voters to be informed from the previous and now not reelect “corrupt” lawmakers. Unlike in previous elections, he doesn’t insist everybody get out and vote to verify a cast Shia appearing on the polls.

July 13, 2018 – As protests spread across southern Iraq over a loss of jobs and govt services and products, Sistani urges government to deal with the lawsuits, but in addition requires non violent protests.

January 16, 2020 – Undergoes a success surgical operation for a damaged thigh bone.

March 6, 2021 – Meets with Pope Francis all through the pontiff’s first-ever visit to Iraq.