President Mam Jalal and the “Vatican of the Shia”

Mohammed Sheikh Othman

Written by Journalist Mohammed Sheikh Othman.

The late President Mam Jalal Talabani frequently used the phrase “Vatican of the Shia” to describe Najaf al-Ashraf, referring to it in his political meetings, media interviews and discussions with research institutions.
Mam Jalal used the expression to highlight the historical and religious significance of Najaf and other holy cities in Iraq, including Karbala, Kadhimiya and Samarra. He also invoked the phrase in defending the Iraqi identity of the country’s Shia population, arguing that Iraqi Shia were deeply rooted in their country and that Iraq had historically been a central centre of Shia religious authority.
At the same time, he called on the Iraqi government to pay greater attention to the development and preservation of the country’s holy cities, including their religious, archaeological and educational importance.
Over the years, Mam Jalal’s description of Najaf as the “Vatican of the Shia” became widely used in political and academic discussions about Najaf and Iraq’s position within the wider Shia world.

Najaf: The “Vatican of the Shia”
In a June 2006 interview with Al-Fayhaa TV, Mam Jalal rejected claims that Iraqi Shia were politically or religiously subordinate to Iran.
He argued that the foundations of Shia Islam were established in Iraq and that Iraqi Shia had historically formed a central part of the wider Shia religious tradition. He also noted that major Shia religious authorities had historically been based in Iraq, before the policies of Saddam Hussein forced many of them to leave.
“The Vatican of the Shia is Najaf al-Ashraf,” he said, pointing to the presence in Iraq of the holy cities of Najaf, Karbala, Kadhimiya and Samarra, as well as the shrines of prominent Shia figures, including Imam Ali, Imam Hussein, Imam Musa al-Kadhim and Abbas.
Mam Jalal argued that the religious authority of Najaf demonstrated the independent Iraqi character of the country’s Shia community. He went further in describing the historical relationship between Iraqi and Iranian Shia religious traditions, arguing that the religious roots and authority of Iraqi Shia had a central place in the wider Shia world.
He also referred to differences between the religious establishments in Najaf and Iran, including differences over religious and political doctrines.

 “Iraqi Shia Are Independent and Patriotic”
In an April 2006 interview with Al Arabiya, Mam Jalal described Iraqi Shia as independent and patriotic, saying they had demonstrated their commitment to their Iraqi identity throughout history.
He cited the Iran-Iraq War as an example, noting that the majority of Shia soldiers and officers in the Iraqi army fought against Iran when Saddam Hussein launched the war.
Mam Jalal again highlighted Najaf’s position as a centre of Shia religious authority, describing it as the “Vatican of the Shia” and pointing to Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani as an example of an independent religious authority committed to preserving the independence of Iraqi decision-making.

Calls to Develop Najaf
Speaking to Al Hurra TV in May 2006, Mam Jalal argued that Najaf should be developed into a model city because of its importance to millions of visitors from Iraq and abroad.
He stressed that people travelled to Najaf not simply because they were Shia, but because it was a holy Islamic city. He said its religious significance made its development and prosperity important to Iraq’s reputation and standing.
For Mam Jalal, supporting the development of Najaf was therefore both a national responsibility and a duty towards a city of major religious importance.

Najaf Rather Than Qom or Mashhad
In a June 2007 interview with the London-based Al-Hayat newspaper, Mam Jalal again rejected the idea that Iraq’s Shia would become followers of Iran.
He pointed to differences between leading religious authorities in Najaf and Iran, particularly over the doctrine of Velayat-e Faqih — the principle of the rule of the Islamic jurist. He said the leading Najaf authorities did not support the doctrine and regarded themselves as religious authorities for Shia Muslims around the world.
Mam Jalal compared the differences over Velayat-e Faqih with divisions within the international communist movement, citing the historical differences between China and Russia.
“Najaf al-Ashraf is the ‘Vatican of the Shia’ in the world, not Qom or Mashhad,” he said.
He also highlighted the concentration of major Shia shrines in Iraq, including those associated with Imam Ali, Imam Hussein, Abbas, Imam Musa al-Kadhim and the two Askari Imams. He noted that only one of the major Shia Imams was buried in Mashhad.
Based on these historical and religious factors, Mam Jalal argued that there was no reason to believe Iraqi Shia would become followers of Iran.

Iraq as a Centre of Shia Religious Authority
Mam Jalal reiterated the same position in a November 2010 interview with the London-based Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper.
“We believe that Najaf is the Vatican of the Shia in the world,” he said, pointing to the holy cities of Karbala, Samarra and Kadhimiya and the major shrines located across Iraq, including those of Imam Ali, Imam Hussein, Imam Musa al-Kadhim, Abbas and the two Askari Imams.
He argued that the concentration of these religious sites, together with Najaf’s longstanding role as a centre of religious scholarship and authority, made Iraq a principal homeland of Shia Islam.
The phrase “Vatican of the Shia” has since continued to appear in political and academic discussions about Najaf and Iraq’s position within the wider Shia world.
This article was prepared as supporting material for researcher Mihyar Kazim’s report for the US-based Atlantic Council, titled “The Rise of the Shia Vatican in Iraq”, which also uses the term “Vatican of the Shia”.