By By Paul Iddon Apr 22, 2014 in Politics An Iraqi Shi'ite Muslim who went to Syria in order to fight the Sunni rebels engaged against the Assad government there is now back in Iraq running for a seat in parliament in the upcoming April 30 elections. The Sayida Zainab shrine is amongst many Shiite shrines in Syria which Shiite Muslims fear will be destroyed by extremist Sunni groups like the 'Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant' if left unprotected. "I was wounded in my eye in front of Sayida Zainab and lost it, and I am delighted and proud of this, and I will return to Syria as the situation requires," al-Khazali has stated. He also voiced this belief, "Our national security, as Iraqis, requires that we go there [Syria] to defend holy places first, and second to defend Iraq." Syria's incumbent President Bashar al-Assad is of course a member of Syria's Alawite-sect which is an offshoot of Shia Islam and a close ally of the regime in Iran. Iraq is a Shiite-majority country. The present Maliki government in power in Baghdad has stressed its neutrality in the violent war raging in neighboring Syria. However some claim they have strong sympathies with the Assad regime. In Iraq itself parliamentary elections are due to transpire on April 30. Khazali is running along with Iraq's President Nuri al-Maliki's State of Law party for a place on Iraq's parliament. He is one of more than 9,000 candidates who are participating in the elections to get a place in the 328 seats in the Iraqi parliament. Military Times also Sectarian violence in Iraq which is reaching heights not seen since the violence of the 2007-2008 period. These militants who are Sunnis, the country's minority sect, are against the Shiite Maliki government in Baghdad and have successfully seen to the cancelling of balloting in the Sunni-majority Anbar province which is again once being plunged into violence with al-Qaeda affiliated militants taking over, yet again, parts of the Iraqi city of Fallujah. Many have been killed and many more displaced by this violence. AFP informs us that Faleh al-Khazali is a 39-year-old who led a group of Iraqi Shi'ites fighters who he says went to Syria in order "to free the area surrounding the Sayida Zainab [Shi'ite shrine] from the takfiris [Salafi extremists]."The Sayida Zainab shrine is amongst many Shiite shrines in Syria which Shiite Muslims fear will be destroyed by extremist Sunni groups like the 'Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant' if left unprotected."I was wounded in my eye in front of Sayida Zainab and lost it, and I am delighted and proud of this, and I will return to Syria as the situation requires," al-Khazali has stated.He also voiced this belief, "Our national security, as Iraqis, requires that we go there [Syria] to defend holy places first, and second to defend Iraq."Syria's incumbent President Bashar al-Assad is of course a member of Syria's Alawite-sect which is an offshoot of Shia Islam and a close ally of the regime in Iran. Iraq is a Shiite-majority country. The present Maliki government in power in Baghdad has stressed its neutrality in the violent war raging in neighboring Syria. However some claim they have strong sympathies with the Assad regime.In Iraq itself parliamentary elections are due to transpire on April 30. Khazali is running along with Iraq's President Nuri al-Maliki's State of Law party for a place on Iraq's parliament.He is one of more than 9,000 candidates who are participating in the elections to get a place in the 328 seats in the Iraqi parliament.Military Times also reports that in the run up to the election terrorists donning military uniforms have targeted a balloting center in Iraq murdering 10.Sectarian violence in Iraq which is reaching heights not seen since the violence of the 2007-2008 period. These militants who are Sunnis, the country's minority sect, are against the Shiite Maliki government in Baghdad and have successfully seen to the cancelling of balloting in the Sunni-majority Anbar province which is again once being plunged into violence with al-Qaeda affiliated militants taking over, yet again, parts of the Iraqi city of Fallujah. Many have been killed and many more displaced by this violence. More about Faleh alKhazali, Syria, Iraq, Maliki, Fallujah More news from Faleh alKhazali Syria Iraq Maliki Fallujah