Sayyed Mohammad Hussein Fadlallah issues fatwa prohibiting electoral money

Prominent Shiaa cleric Mohammad Hussein Fadlallah issued on Monday a fatwa prohibiting the use of electoral or political money, whether from the sender or the receiver.

Fadlallah called on all political leaders to respect the people's will in choosing their representatives on the basis of competence and honesty, instead of trying to bribe them to vote in favor of domestic, regional or international interests.

He added that society was responsible for protecting its citizens from all "the thieves who steal citizens' future and dignity."

Fadlallah said delaying development projects, including social and economic ones, and keeping them hostage to the upcoming parliamentary elections would be considered "betrayal and political corruption," and he called for punishing those responsible for the delay.