Abstract The September 11, 2001, attacks on New York and Washington created a surge in scholarly interest in terrorism and extremism. However, there have been few comprehensive examinations of the role played by religious leaders in countering threats against state and society. Grand Ayatollah Ali al‐Sistani, the Iraqi Shia spiritual leader, emerged during the US invasion and occupation as a prominent figure promoting tolerance, rejecting extremism, and calling for peace among sectarian groups and political parties. This article explores how Sistani has opposed violent extremism, particularly after the Islamic State conquered parts of Syria and Iraq. Since 2017, Sistani has aided Iraq's post‐ISIS recovery by urging the government to bring militias under state authority, advocating for national unity, and seeking reforms to bolster the country's sovereignty and stability. The study examines Sistani's fatwas and public statements, showing that by mobilizing his followers and leveraging his moral authority, the grand ayatollah has helped mitigate sectarian tensions and quell violence. It concludes with a discussion of the succession process, as Sistani has reached his mid‐90s.
Tarkhani et al. (Thu,) studied this question.
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