Grand Ayatollah Ishaq Fayyad's Fatwa in Favor the Constitution

KarbalaNews.net [Arabic] publishes a copy of the fatwa by Grand Ayatollah Ishaq Fayyad in favor of the Iraqi constitution:

Fayyad, an Afghan Hazara by birth, came to Najaf at the age of 10 and has risen to be among the 4 top ayatollahs in Iraq. He is slightly junior to Sistani, and reputedly more pro-American.

' The Office of His Excellency Grand Ayatollah Shaikh Muhammad Ishaq al-Fayyad (long may his shadow persist).

Q. Peace be upon you, and the mercy and blessings of God. Give us, the abject, your considered opinion on this question:

What is the opinion of your excellency concerining participation in the referendum on the draft constitution?

A. In His Name, May he be Exalted.

The draft of the permanent constitution for Iraq, even though it falls short of being appropriate to the Islamic, civilizational and religious status of Iraq throughout history, nevertheless answers the aspirations of the Iraqi people of all stripes, strata, and religions. In addition, this is the feasible result yielded by the strenuous efforts exerted by the sincere children of Iraq. For this reason, we call upon the iraqi people of all kinds and sects to participate in force in this referendum on the constitution, and to vote "yes" in order to safeguard their rights, liberties and the future of succeeding generations, and in order to close ranks and defeat terror and the terrorists, and to end the Occupation. We ask God, may He be Exalted, to take the hand of all with regard to whatever is good for Iraq and its people. Peace be upon you and the mercy and blessings of God. '

So far I am unaware of such an explicit, written fatwa from Sistani himself. But having the number two or three man issue it may be a way of signalling the desire of the Shiite religious establishment without appearing to tie the hands of democratic citizens in their voting behavior.