Is the influential Iraqi Shi’ite cleric, the Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Husseini al-Sistani, refusing to meet with Ambassador L. Paul Bremer because he fears coming into contact with an “unclean” infidel?

At al-Sistani’s website, the Grand Ayatollah summarizes his views on “najas,” or sources of “pollution.” These items would pollute Muslims simply by touching them, and they include non-Muslims themselves. While the Grand Ayatollah’s writings equivocate regarding which non-Muslims are “officially” najas, al-Sistani’s failure to meet with Ambassador Bremer may reflect his true, unstated sentiments. Clearly, al-Sistani and Ambassador Bremer are engaged in a political dispute over the timing and conduct of elections in Iraq. However, the Grand Ayatollah’s refusal to even meet with the U.S. Civilian Administrator (in stark contrast to al-Sistani’s meetings with the Muslim UN Representative Lakhdar Brahimi) suggests that a more profound dynamic may be operative: the Ayatollah may fear becoming “polluted” by a non-Muslim.