What the U.S. needs to do about it.
Iran’s Grand Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi declared a fatwa against President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on June 29. A fatwa is a religious decree on a matter of Islamic law that is issued by a senior Islamic jurist.
Shirazi holds the rank of a Marja’a-e Taqlid, the highest level of the Iranian Shiite Twelver clergy, meaning one whose theological scholarship has earned him the right to be followed and emulated by acolytes, seminarians, and common people alike. The Twelver sect of Shiite Islam dominates among the senior clerical, juridical, and military ranks of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s leadership and refers to those who follow the Twelfth Imam of Shia Islam, identify him as Islam’s messianic figure of the Mahdi, but who also believe they can hasten his return to Earth by instigating chaos and warfare on Earth.
While Shirazi issued the original fatwa against Trump and Netanyahu, the following day, on June 30, Grand Ayatollah Hossein Noori Hamedani, also from Qom, issued a similar fatwa that essentially supported Shirazi’s. Since then, more than 400 Shiite clerics in the theological seminary city of Qom have backed those two decrees.
Members of the Society of Seminary Teachers of Qom, who are among the senior religious scholars teaching in Qom’s many seminaries, have supported the reference to the Islamic crime of mohareb and called Shirazi’s fatwa “necessary and timely.”
In his ruling, Shirazi stated, “Any person or regime that threatens the Leader or Marja (May God forbid) is considered a ‘warlord’ or a ‘mohareb.’”
He added: “Any cooperation or support for that enemy by Muslims or Islamic states is haram or forbidden. It is necessary for all Muslims around the world to make these enemies regret their words and mistakes.”
Islamic law (shariah) mandates the death penalty for the crime of mohareb (waging war against God). All charged with mohareb must not only be killed but, according to Quranic verse 5:33, can also face crucifixion, limb amputation, or exile.
All of this is to say that this fatwa is a very serious matter, not just for or within Iran, but because it carries with it the intent to authorize the assassination of Trump and Netanyahu anywhere in the world. While Iranian officials had threatened retaliation against Trump and other senior members of his administration for the January 2020 strike that eliminated Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani, this is the first time such an actual religious edict aimed specifically at the president of the United States and the prime minister of Israel has been issued by these senior Shiite clerical figures in Iran.
Adding to the instigation, according to the regime-connected Fars News Agency, an Iranian group called The Blood Covenant, which reportedly operates “under the aegis of the Iranian regime” was launched on July 4, supposedly to defend Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
According to Middle East Media Research Institute website, the Blood Covenant website features an image of President Trump in the crosshairs along with a crowd-funding appeal to reward anyone who actually does assassinate him. The group claimed already to have raised nearly $40.3 million as of July 9.
Additionally, on July 7, a state-appointed cleric in the West Azerbaijan Province of Iran “announced a reward of 100 billion tomans (approximately $1.14 million) for anyone who kills Trump.” Mansour Emami, the official Iranian provincial director of the Islamic Propagation Organization of West Azerbaijan, offered the reward for “anyone who brings the head of Trump.”
The Foundation for Defense of Democracies reported on yet another public campaign to raise money to be awarded for the assassination of President Trump. An online website that is possibly run by Hossein Abbasifar — who appears to have worked for the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting, the regime’s main media propaganda outlet — also promoted a multimillion-dollar bounty as “reward for the head of the cursed Trump.”
As these calls for the assassination of President Trump continue to spread, along with monetary rewards, it’s important to recall earlier U.S. security reporting about Iranian regime targeting of not only President Trump but also other former members of his first administration. These include national security adviser John Bolton; Secretary of State Mike Pompeo; former Defense Secretary Mark Esper; and Brian Hook, former U.S. special representative for Iran.
In June 2023, the Treasury Department Office of Foreign Assets Control imposed sanctions on members and affiliates of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, accusing them of engaging in assassination plots against these officials and others, including dual U.S.-Iran nationals/anti-regime dissidents around the world. Whether any Iranian hit teams remain in the U.S. is a concern that has to be taken seriously.
Open calls for the assassination of the president of the United States constitute a de facto declaration of war against the U.S. They must be recognized and treated as such with measures that include terror designations, expanded sanctions and asset seizures, plus visa revocation for any Iranian regime-linked academics or media figures in the U.S.
Clare M. Lopez is the Founder/President of Lopez Liberty LLC.
This article originally appeared in Newsmax.com.
Wellington says
In microcosm this illustrates how Islam is absolutely incompatible with the West or, for that matter, with human society in general.
Islam is a drag on humanity. No greater burden to mankind over the longest period of time has ever existed. Enough already with the psychotic character of Mohammed, the hate manual which is the Koran or effing Allah, who does not exist.
Never in the history of mankind has such an evil and stupid ideology had so much traction. Islam, whether with its idiotic Sunni branch or its idiotic Shia branch, is a fluke and an extremely menacing one at that. Mankind has many problems but mankind without Islam would, no brainer, still be clearly better off. Islam contributes nothing of value to mankind which is unique to Islam. Not one damn thing.
Anna Yelena says
I’m so upset! I was already to post and then I read your post and realized you took the words right out of my mouth. Amazing post on a so called religion masquerading as a political entity and a warped one at that. Thank you and in God Jesus we trust.
Wellington says
Thank you, Anna.
Tim gallagher says
A perfect description of barbaric and evil islam, Wellington. How Islam continues to con so many people is amazing. If enough non Muslims would wake up and face up to reality, when it comes to islam, then Islam would cop the treatment deserves, it would be hammered instead of being treated so well.
Wellington says
Yes, Tim, that is the mystery, i.e., how Islam continues to fool so many people, both Muslim and non-Muslim. I can’t explain it minus a partial explanation and that is gross and willful ignorance and mixed with a solid dose of good old fashion stupidity.
Michael Paul Skok says
George Bush II was the biggest fool. He declared Islam a “religion of peace” only one or two days after the 9/11/2001 attacks which killed over 2,900 Americans. Ann Coulter has the one and only plan to deal with the Muslims: “We should invade their countries, kill their leaders and convert them to Christianity. We weren’t punctilious about locating and punishing only Hitler and his top officers. We carpet-bombed German cities; we killed civilians. That’s war. And this is war.”
Tim gallagher says
Yeah, it is a mystery to me as well, Wellington. This strange ability that so many people have to sleep walk their way into disaster and to go on sugar coating Islam is sickening. Michael, ann Coulter’s tactic sounds pretty good. How was that greeted. There must have been plenty of outrage. The smartest approach is the Hungarian one. No Muslims, end of story. Too late for most countries now, but is what I would love to see. No Muslims in any non Muslim country ever. Kick them out and slam the door shut.
James Lincoln says
Pres. Trump should very publicly post a picture of Shirazi’s residence – complete with GPS coordinates.
tgusa says
Trump is busy with MAGA American issues such as the economy, trade, the enemy within and illegal immigration. The iranian assholes are not that important right now but Trump will get around to them eventually.
abu taleb says
Muhammad went to Tabuk with his army ready for war because there was a rumor that Byzantium was preparing its army to attack Medinah. Turned out there was nothing, but Muhammad and his thygs were using the opportunity to rob and extort the locals.
Given the fact that Iran wants to wipe out the US, based on Islamic rule, the US has every Islamic legitimate reason to attack Iran.
If muslims use Islamic rules to non muslims, non muslims can use the same rules to the muslims. It is so stupid if we let muslims use their Islamic rules but we use non Islamic rules which will only give absolute advantage to muslims.
Robert McMillan says
Excellent Point!
࿗Infidel࿘ says
I did read the paragraph after that, and don’t doubt his theological credentials among the shi’a. That said, the Grand ayatollah is still Ayatollah Ali Hosseini Khamenei, even if he’s 89. What’s more – Naser Shirazi’s name wasn’t even mentioned as a potential successor to Khamenei
I do think that whenever Khamenei croaks, there will be a revolution in Iran, this time overthrowing the regime
Walter Sieruk says
That those despots in power in that aggressive and hostile tyrannical regime of Iran want both President Trump and the Prime Minister of Israel, Netanyahu dead, is strong prove enough that Trump and Netanyahu that they are doing the right things in the Middle East.
OLD GUY says
Iran has been declaring war on the world of non-islamic followers for years. Trump and America need to take his threats seriously and close down all travel from Iran and deport all Iran citizens that are in America. Sanction and blockade them and they will fall.