Iranian ayatollah criticizes Qaradawi for his remarks on Bahrain uprising

March 17, 2011 - 0:0

QOM – Grand Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi has criticized Sunni cleric Sheik Yusuf al-Qaradawi for his discriminatory remarks about the popular uprising in Bahrain.

Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi said it is surprising that Qaradawi who had supported uprising in Egypt has said pro-democracy movement in Bahrain “should b suppressed”.
A religious scholar should not make such discriminatory remarks, the ayatollah said.
“How can an open-minded religious scholar make such remarks? The meaning of the statement by Mr. Qaradawi is that we make discrimination between Muslims,” Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi told theology students on Wednesday.
“Qaradawi supports uprising in Egypt, and war in Libya but when it comes to Bahrain he defends dictatorship.”
The ayatollah said both Shias and Sunnis are involved in the protests in Bahrain.
“The uprising by the Bahraini people is not restricted to Shias because all Bahraini people have risen up (against dictatorship) and even Sunni ulema have issued statement in support of this popular uprising.