One of Iraq’s top Shia leaders, Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Mohammed Saeed al-Hakeem is dead.
Gatekeepers News reports that the deceased, who was one of the Big Four Grand Ayatollahs of the Hawza of Najaf and one of the most senior Shia clerics in Iraq after Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, died in in the southern holy city of Najaf on Friday at the age of 85.
Al-Hakeem’s office confirmed his demise, saying he died of a sudden medical condition but did not give further details.
A relative, Mohsen al-Hakeem, told The Associated Press news agency that al-Hakeem died at the Al Hayat hospital in Najaf where he was taken after suffering a sudden heart attack.
Gatekeepers News reports that al-Hakeem’s funeral ceremonies will be held on Saturday in Najaf and its twin holy city of Karbala.
Iraqi President Barham Salih in a statement paid homage to the “prominent figure” in Shia Islam.
Also, the United States expressed its condolences in a statement from its embassy in Baghdad.
“Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Saeed al-Hakim (may God have mercy on him), who was a symbol of peace, love, and harmony across the region.
“We ask God to bless him with His abundance of mercy. Please accept our sincere condolences and sympathy on this great loss,” the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad tweeted.
