AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): Senior Iranian Cleric Ayatollah Mohammad-Hassan Akhtari, the Chairman of the High Council of the Ahlulbayt (a.s.) World Assembly on Saturday strongly condemned the publication of the offensive cartoon of prominent Shiite cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani in a Saudi-owned newspaper which provoked outrage of Muslims worldwide.
Referring to the insulting and malicious action of the media affiliated to the Saudi regime in distorting the spiritual and brilliant image of the Iraqi Supreme Authority, Ayatollah Akhtari added that this action is a retaliatory and vindictive act against the pure beliefs and feelings of millions of Sunnis, Shiites and Christians inside and outside of Iraq.
Saudi Arabia's Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper insulted Ayatollah Sistani in a cartoon that sparked a wave of anger and reactions against Saudi Arabia and its media among Iraqis.
In another development on May 15, the Iraqi Parliament's Communications and Information Commission called for the closure of the Saudi MBC TV Channel after insulting the Deputy Commander of Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Unit (PMU) Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.