For the first time in modern Turkish history, a high-ranking Turkish official, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, visited the Shiite holy cities of Najaf and Karbala, in Iraq. In a symbolic gesture during the holy month of Muharram, Davutoglu wore a black shirt, green scarf and tie — signs of mourning for Imam Hussein, the third Shiite imam whose martyrdom was being celebrated during his visit. He arrived in Najaf on the morning of Nov. 11, after spending time in Baghdad on Nov. 10.
While in Najaf, Davutoglu met for almost an hour with Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani. He described Sistani as the “safety valve” of Iraq, calling him a “global peace man” who stands against sectarian sedition in Iraq and the region. He also said that he brought the salutations of the 76 million people of Turkey to Sistani and Iraqis. Referencing the Muharram commemoration of Hussein, Davutoglu asserted that Najaf and Karbala were in the hearts of all Turkish Muslims and that the principles of mankind's compassion espoused by the imam belong not only to all Muslims, but to all humanity. He also expressed his hope that such a tragedy as at Karbala, where Hussein was martyred, never be repeated. Sistani welcomed Davutoglu, thanked him for his sentiments and sent his salutations to the Turkish people and their government.
Davutoglu had previously announced that his visits to Najaf and Karbala were not for political purposes and that he would not discuss political issues with Shiite spiritual leaders. Once in Iraq, however, most of his discussions with Shiite leaders focused on political and even economic issues, in detail.
A source present at the meeting between Davutoglu and Sistani reported that after a brief general discussion about the regional sectarian crisis, for which both shared mutual understanding and agreement, Sistani turned the discussion to the pressing economic issues facing Iraq. He registered his disapproval that Turkey continues to press ahead with construction of a series of dams on the Euphrates and Tigris Rivers that is reducing water flows into Iraq. This issue has created a major problem for the Iraqi economy as well as the country's environment that must be resolved through cooperation between Iraq and Turkey, according to Sistani.
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