Grand Mufti al‑Sadiq al‑Gharyani said he supports large, peaceful protests as a legitimate way to demand elections, a constitution, better services, and an end to corruption. He urged sustained, orderly demonstrations near government and National Oil Corporation headquarters to pressure authorities into transparency and reform. Simultaneously, he condemned vandalism, road closures, and attacks on institutions, calling them ‘haram’ and a form of ‘haraba’. He blamed the Interior Ministry for failing to prevent such acts and insisted on enforcing the law against offenders. Gharyani claimed some destructive actions were carried out by misled unemployed youth manipulated by external actors, allegedly directed by external operations rooms in the UAE and Tel Aviv, while others may be part of a political plot. He also criticized the government for misplaced priorities, ignoring advice, and relying on superficial fixes while citizens face worsening crises. Peaceful protest, he says, is necessary; chaos is unacceptable.
