Japanese version
Ali al-Sistani
alternative words: Ali Sistani, Ali Husaini Sistani, Ayatollah Ali Sistani, Sistani keywords: cleric , famous person related web sites: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3033306.stm explanation: Born in 1930 into a religious family near the city of Mashad in Iran and began to study Koran very young. In 1951, he move to the Iranian holy city of Qom, then to Najaf, one year later. There, he deepened his knowledge with prominent Shia clerics such as Abul Qassim al-Khoei. In 1992, after the assassination of the latter, he has been elected to head of Hawza to succeed him. During Saddam's reign, he kept a low profile to remain outside politics. | |