Hezbollah Denounces US Blatant Hatred in Blacklisting Astan Quds Razavi, PMU Leader

Translated by Staff, Hezbollah Media Relations

Hezbollah slams the US blacklisting of the Astan Quds Razavi which runs the Imam Reza [AS] shrine in Iran and denounces the ruthless US campaign against Iraq’s PMU.

Hezbollah issued the following statement:

As the US presidential term approaches its final days, it seems that the level of insanity and hatred of the US Secretary of State has increased dramatically. This comes as it continues to pour out its blatant hatred in more than one direction.

In this context, blacklisting the Astan Quds Razavi [which runs the Imam Reza (AS) holy shrine] and its affairs' official, His Eminence Sheikh Ahmed Al-Marawi [May God Almighty protect him], is a totally unprecedented step.

The holy Razavi shrine is a sacred place of worship visited by millions of Muslims. It has a deep spiritual position in their conscience and beliefs. Therefore, Hezbollah considers this foolish step an offense to true Islam as well as its spiritual and divine values. This move goes beyond politics and political differences towards an explicit declaration of hostility to religions and religious beliefs. It further reflects the level of moral and intellectual decline that the US State Department and the US administration have reached.

In parallel, Hezbollah considers that the ruthless American campaign against the Popular Mobilization Units [PMU] in Iraq has made its objectives clear.

The PMU represents a guarantee to Iraq's unity and the most important element of its strength in the face of Daesh [Arabic Acronym for "ISIS"/"ISIL"] and Takfiri terrorism. Therefore, the US decision to blacklist the dear brother and Mujahid Abdul Aziz al-Muhammadawi [Haji Abu Fadak, PMU's acting deputy chairman] comes in the context of punishing the PMU for its role in defending Iraq and its sovereignty, security and freedom, especially that he is well-known for his long history of Jihad in the war on terror and confronting Daesh in various fields.

The US move comes as a continuation of its previous decision to place the head of the PMU, dear brother and Mujahid Falih al-Fayyad, on the same list; as well as the assassination of the PMU’s deputy chairman Martyr leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis which came in the same context.

As Hezbollah greatly rejects and condemns these punitive measures, it urges the honorable Iraqi people and their political forces to stand firmly against these measures in defense of their country, legitimate institutions and sovereign decision.