Mohamad Bazzi

The Influential Iraqi Cleric Rallying Muslims Against ISIS

Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani has emerged as an important voice of moderation at a critical time.

Mohamad Bazzi
By Mohamad Bazzi

As the new Iraqi government grows more dependent on US air strikes and military aid to defeat Islamic State (IS) jihadists, the country’s most revered Shia cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, has emerged as an important voice of moderation. Sistani called on the Shia-led government to keep Iraq united and reconcile with Sunnis. But he has

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Why The West Needs To Change Its Approach To Negotiating With Hamas

Analysis: Much of Hamas’ leadership lives outside of Palestine, and an enduring ceasefire cannot happen without engaging those leaders.

Mohamad Bazzi
By Mohamad Bazzi

After a 72-hour ceasefire collapsed on August 1, Israeli and Palestinian negotiators abandoned plans to travel to Cairo and begin talks to end the Gaza conflict. But the most influential Palestinian figure was not going to be in the room anyway: Khaled Meshaal, the political leader of Hamas, would remain at his base in exile in Qatar. Ultimately,

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