Hujjat El-islam Sheikh Abdul Mahdi al-Karbalai (?–current) is a high-ranking Shiite Ayatollah, best known for being the official representative of Grand Ayatollah Sistani in Iraq today.
Role
al-Karbalai is based in Karbala, Iraq approximately 80 km from Najaf, where Grand Ayatollah Sistani resides. In practice, Sistani never delivers public sermons or speeches, and only releases official statements through Sheikh al-Karbalai. The statements are later transcribed and posted on Sistani's official webpage, with the Grand Ayatollah's official stamp, indicating the authenticity of the remarks.
Sheikh Karbalai is noted for having announced Ayatollah Sistani's edicts obligating Iraqis to vote and to join the military to oppose ISIS.
References
Sheikh Abdul Mahdi al-Karbalai Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA