Tensions Mount Between Iraqi Government, Najaf
Though influential, Iraqi politicians claim Najaf religious scholars have no right to influence the state of affairs in the country.
One of the paradoxes characterizing Iraq is that while the religious authority in Najaf has not called for religious governance and has even strongly opposed it — something that is historically rare — the religiously-oriented Iraqi government has been resorting to religious slogans and demands to cover up its failure in governance.
Each time the religious authority in Najaf demands that the government work on achieving the civil demands of citizens, it is met with offensive criticism or inattention by government figures.
