Iraqi Cleric Asks Followers Not to Work for Foreign Oil

[sabra]

Source: WSJ

BAGHDAD—Even before rival Iraqi politicians finish haggling over how to divide cabinet posts to form a unity government here, anti-American firebrand cleric Moqtada al-Sadr is weighing in on the country's biggest economic issue: oil policy.

Mr. Sadr, whose militia waged pitched battles against American forces not long after they ousted Saddam Hussein, has banned his followers from accepting jobs with foreign oil companies working in southern Iraq, his spokesman said Sunday.

The ban raises questions about how much political opposition the oil companies may face from the new government being assembled by Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. Representatives of rival political factions taking part in forming a unity government were continuing negotiations as of late Sunday night. Mr. al-Maliki had promised to announce at least a partial cabinet by Monday.

Salah al-Obeidi, a Sadr spokesman, said the ban—issued Thursday on Mr. Sadr's website as a religious edict called a fatwa—could be lifted after verifying the "legitimacy" of a company's operations. The fatwa came in the form of a response to a question from a follower, asking if it was permissible to accept work from a private, British oil company offering jobs in the southern province of Missan.

Mr. Sadr responds: "In the name of the Almighty, presently not, this is prohibited."

Read more: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704862604576029811766572684.html