Scholars, journalists and politicians attended the Fifth Tarateel Sajjadiya International Festival, organized by Imam Hussain Holy Shrine from October 5 to 7. The festival aimed at providing a platform for hearing anti-extremism voices, Press TV reports.
Sheikh Abdul Mahdi Karbalai, the representative of Iraq’s top Shia holy man Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, was one of the keynote speakers at the conference, which included several plenary sessions.
He talked about the success of Iraqi forces in the fight against the Takfiri
...an adherent of takfir wal hijra, an offshoot of Salafism that regards everybody who doesn't agree with them as apostates who must be killed...ISIS terrorist group and how Iraqis of all sects fought side by side against the terror outfit.
"As the Shia gave blood against ISIS, so did the Sunni," said Sheikh Karbalai, adding, "We have been fighting ISIS since day one. All Iraqis stood together to fight, so we could all achieve victory together."
Not long after ISIS overran Iraq in 2014, Grand Ayatollah Sistani issued a religious decree, calling on the Iraqi people to "defend the country, the honor of its citizens, and its sacred places."
The ruling, known as a fatwa, led to the formation of the pro-government Popular Mobilization Forces, also known by their Arabic name the Hashd al-Sha’abi.