Iraqi Jurist Marja Issues Statement Over Death of Ayatollah Sheikh Nimr

(BAGHDAD) - Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Mohammad Taqi al-Modarresi, a Grand Iraqi jurist marja, issued a statement over the death of Ayatollah Sheikh Nimr:

"Of the believers are men who are true to the covenant which they made with Allah: so of them is he who accomplished his vow [to death], and of them is he who yet waits, and they have not changed in the least.

"Thanks and praise be to God, Lord of the Universe, helper of the oppressed, and destroyer of oppressors. Peace and blessings be upon the Blessed Prophet and his Immaculate Progeny.

"Here is Ayatollah Sheikh Nimr joining the camp of martyrs, as God granted his wish, one that he held throughout his life. And here is the accursed tree of terrorism exposing itself, perpetrating the murder of an eminent symbol of faith, a man whose sole crime was defending the truth and demanding rights.

"The execution of the Martyr of Dignity, Ayatollah Nimr is an atrocity more heinous than all the crimes of terrorists and extremists. The consequences of this gratuitous act are no less severe than the violations of Saddam’s regime against grand religious scholars in Iraq.

"The murder of this martyr is a declaration of war, not just against an honorable sect that follows the Holy Household of the Prophet, but against all those who live by divine values and believe 'Whoever kills a soul unless for a soul or for corruption [done] in the land - it is as if he had slain mankind entirely.'

"The killers of the martyred Sheikh have demonstrated that offering wise counsel and advice, as well as peacefully demanding rights is an approach that fails to produce results when one’s opponent has an ISIS-like mentality. It is precisely this mentality which drives the House of Saud and its pawns.

"The execution of Ayatollah Nimr is intended to make a mockery of all Prophets and their ethics. It is an act which disparages all international laws, norms, and conventions, especially when considering that the execution of such an esteemed cleric is unprecedented in the entire region.

"Thus, his blood shall not go in vain, for God Has declared, "Verily from those who transgress We shall exact (due) Retribution." Allah Has also stated, "whoever is slain unjustly, We have indeed given to his heir authority".

"History will mark this heinous crime as the beginning of the end for this wicked family [of Saud], whose track record contains nothing but murder, oppression, and tyranny.

"Whilst condemning this criminal action, we declare to the world that the Saudi regime has crossed a red line, and the House of Saud must now anticipate the repercussions of their reckless decisions. Everyone should also know that this is our path, one that was articulated by Imam Zeinul Abedeen, Ali son of Hussein, who said, "being killed is our habit, and martyrdom is our divinely-bestowed honor". The blood of our noble martyrs has watered and nurtured our mission throughout history, and that oppressors will have no recourse.

"World powers must also know that eradicating the tree of terrorism does not succeed by trimming its branches alone, and that if they do not intervene to prevent [this regime from] state terrorism, aspiration of spreading freedom and justice will not be anything more than false claims and a spurious mirage."