Hawzah News Agency- Speaking to worshippers in the holy city of Najaf, al-Qabanchi described the weapons dossier as a "burning issue" and laid out his vision for resolving it.
"Our view is that this file must proceed with national management, away from external pressures, and with recourse to the opinion of the religious authority," he said. "The internal and external dangers surrounding Iraq must be taken into account, because the ultimate goal is preserving security, independence, and national sovereignty."
He stressed that the final word on the matter belongs to the Marjaiyyah, Iraq's highest Shia religious authority. "The religious authority is the one who issues the fatwa," al-Qabanchi said.
Martyrs Foundation Scandal: Baathists and Terrorists Found on Official Lists
Turning to domestic affairs, the Najaf Friday prayer leader revealed alarming findings from Iraq's Martyrs Foundation, demanding immediate action.
According to al-Qabanchi, the foundation has reported 20,000 cases of deaths without recovered bodies across Iraq, with Anbar province topping the list. More disturbingly, he said the institution documented 22,000 cases of violations and document forgery — including the names of 471 Baathists and 2,302 terrorists registered on official martyrs lists.
"We call on the Martyrs Foundation to purge these lists of terrorists, Baathists, and fabricated names," he demanded, while acknowledging the institution's efforts in pursuing the case.
Bahrain: 'A War Against Shia Islam'
Al-Qabanchi also addressed regional developments, sharply criticizing Bahrain's recent actions against its Shia population.
He said Manama has revoked the citizenship of 69 individuals, including a number of religious scholars, on charges of undermining national loyalty, sympathizing with Iran, and engaging in sectarian behavior. Among those stripped of citizenship was Muhammad Ghaloum, a eulogist known for the chant "Salam Ya Mahdi."
The cleric also pointed to the imprisonment of Bahraini youth Mahdi Zuheir, jailed solely for publicly reciting the Ziyarat of Imam Hussein (AS).
"These are examples of the war against Shia Islam that the region is grappling with," al-Qabanchi declared. "We must move away from the language of inflaming tensions against Shia Muslims and coexist with everyone in the spirit of Islamic brotherhood."
Honoring Imam Hassan al-Askari's Legacy
In his religious sermon, coinciding with the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hassan al-Askari (AS), the 11th Shia Imam, al-Qabanchi reflected on the Imam's teachings and the harsh conditions Shia Muslims endured under Abbasid rule.
He cited the Imam's famous instruction to his followers: "I advise you to fear God and be pious in your religion. Fear God, be an ornament and not a disgrace. Attract all affection toward us and repel all that is ugly from us."
The cleric highlighted how Imam al-Askari guided the Shia community through a period of intense persecution, preparing them for the occultation of Imam al-Mahdi (AS). He quoted the Imam's directive establishing the principle of religious emulation: "As for the jurists who protect themselves, preserve their religion, oppose their desires, and obey the command of their Master, it is upon the common people to follow them."
"This is how the Shia faith and community were preserved," al-Qabanchi concluded. "Without this, Shia Islam would have been eradicated."
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