Commemorating Fatwa of Sufficient Defense by Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Ali al-Sistani in Iraq, calling for voluntary, collective action to defend the country against ISIS (2014), University of Kerbala, College of Education for Islamic Sciences, organizes its first edition of “Religious Authority of Nation” Festival, reliving such honored fatwa.
The festival, which is held in cooperation with Holy Abbasid Shrine, has been attended by a number of deans, teaching staff , representatives of Holy Abbasid Shrine and students.

In his speech, President of the University Prof. Dr. Sabah Wajid states that this blessed fatwa issued by Grand Ayatollah Sistani, is not a call to one group over another, however; it is a call for entire nation, regardless of their sects.

He explains that the fatwa has revived spirits, unified the community and prompted people with courage and repelled injustice.

For his part, Dr. Muhammad al-Ta’i, Dean of College of Islamic Sciences, says that launching this first edition of festival keeps pace with framework of commemorating those who sacrifice themselves, their heroic stances, and blessed fatwa issued by the religious authority.

Sheikh Hussein Manahi, representative of delegation of Holy Abbasid Shrine, explains that this event is of great importance in implanting spirit of pride and be as a living example of bearing responsibility, confronting future dangers, and transforming it into practical conduct in fields of construction, development, and building the future.