Iran’s top Shia cleric, Grand Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi, has issued a fatwa — a religious decree — labeling former US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as “enemies of God.” The powerful decree, reported by Mehr News Agency, urges Muslims worldwide to unite and act against the two leaders for threatening Iran’s religious and political leadership.
The Ayatollah stated that “any person or regime that threatens the Leader or Marja is considered a ‘mohareb’,” a term in Islamic law used for someone who wages war against God. Under Iranian law, moharebs can face severe punishments including execution, crucifixion, or exile.
Makarem’s fatwa further warned that supporting Trump or Netanyahu, either by individuals or Islamic states, is haram (religiously forbidden), and declared that Muslims must make the two leaders “regret their words and mistakes.” It also promised spiritual rewards to those who endure hardship while acting on the decree.
This declaration comes in the wake of a 12-day conflict that erupted on June 13, during which Israel launched airstrikes in Iran, killing military commanders and nuclear scientists. Iran retaliated with missile attacks on Israeli cities. The conflict escalated further when the US joined the offensive, targeting Iranian nuclear facilities, leading Iran to bombard an American base in Qatar.
What Is a Fatwa?
A fatwa is a formal legal opinion or interpretation of Islamic law issued by a Marja, the highest-ranking cleric in Shia Islam. While not always violent in nature, fatwas can carry significant weight in guiding religious and political actions.
One of the most infamous examples of a violent fatwa came in 1989 when Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khomeini issued a decree calling for the assassination of author Salman Rushdie over his book “The Satanic Verses”. That fatwa led to attacks on translators and publishers, and Rushdie himself survived multiple assassination attempts — the most recent in 2023, when he was stabbed and lost an eye.
