The meeting with Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani came as Francis sought to protect his persecuted flock in Iraq by forging closer bonds between the Roman Catholic Church and the Muslim world.
Tag: Najaf (Iraq)
‘Our Role Is to Reduce Their Grief’
None of Iraq’s existing graveyards wanted the bodies of Covid-19 patients. So Shiite leaders created a burial ground for them that is also open to Sunnis and Christians.
Iraq Resists Iranian Pressure to Reopen Border Closed to Slow Covid-19
With the coronavirus raging in Iran, a push to distance their country from their neighbor has gained broader appeal in Iraq.
Stigma Hampers Iraqi Efforts to Fight the Coronavirus
Religious beliefs and a deep suspicion of the government have made people ashamed and afraid of getting tested.
At the Iranian Border, Iraqis Try to Keep a Virus From Entering
Iran has one of the world’s largest concentrations of the coronavirus. Iraq has had few cases, and wants to keep it that way. Things can get testy.
Iraq Prime Minister Says He Will Resign Amid Protests
The announcement comes after demonstrators set fire to the Iranian Consulate and hundreds died in antigovernment unrest.
Iraq Protesters Burn Down Iran Consulate in Night of Anger
Antigovernment demonstrators, who have demanded an end to Iranian influence in Iraq, attacked the consulate in the city of Najaf.