Baghdad council member quits Taqadum party
Shafaq News/ A member of the Baghdad Provincial Council, Rafah Al-Zubaie, announced on Sunday her withdrawal from the Taqadum (The National Progress) party led by former Iraqi parliament speaker Mohammed al-Halbousi.
In a statement, Al-Zubaie said her decision was in protest against "exclusion and obstruction of free and collective action."
Taqadum secured eight seats out of 49 in the Baghdad Provincial Council during Iraq's 2023 local elections. However, the party has faced a series of defections following Al-Halbousi's removal from the speakership.
On June 6, 2024, eleven lawmakers and provincial council members announced their departure from Taqadum, forming a new political bloc called the Initiative (Mubadara) Coalition. The group included senior figures such as Shalaan Al-Karim.
Member of Parliament Ziad Al-Janabi held a press conference at the time to declare the split, which effectively cost Taqadum a third of its parliamentary seats.
The defectors attributed their withdrawal to political stagnation and the prolonged failure of the legislature to elect a new speaker, demanding the implementation of the political agreement framework that led to the formation of the current government under Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani.
Following the formation of the Initiative bloc, lawmaker Nawras Al-Eisa also announced her departure from Taqadum to join the new coalition.
Further rifts emerged when senior Taqadum member Kareem Al-Dulaimi declared his resignation from the party, criticizing Al-Halbousi's leadership style as "authoritarian" and accusing him of monopolizing decision-making and suppressing dissenting opinions.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Iraqi News
2 hours ago
- Iraqi News
Iraq frees Egyptian and Australian engineers over central bank contract issue
Baghdad – Iraq has released an Australian mechanical engineer and his Egyptian colleague who were detained for more than four years over a dispute with the central bank, authorities said Friday, though the two remain barred from leaving the country. Robert Pether and Khalid Radwan were working for an engineering company contracted to oversee the construction of the bank's new Baghdad headquarters, according to a United Nations report, when they were arrested in April 2021. A report from a working group for the UN Human Rights Council said the arrests stemmed from a contractual dispute over 'alleged failure to execute certain payments'. Both men were sentenced to five years in prison and fined $12 million, the working group said. A security official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP that Pether, in his fifties, was released 'due to his poor health'. Australian media have previously reported that the family suspected Pether had developed lung cancer in prison and that he had undergone surgery for skin cancer. A second Iraqi official confirmed the release of Radwan, adding that he was not allowed to leave the country until a 'final decision' was made regarding his case. Australia's ABC broadcaster quoted the country's foreign minister, Penny Wong, as welcoming the release and saying the Australian government had raised the issue with Iraqi authorities more than 200 times. Simon Harris, foreign minister for Ireland, where Pether's family lives, posted on X: 'This evening, I have been informed of the release on bail of Robert Pether, whose imprisonment in Iraq has been a case of great concern. 'This is very welcome news in what has been a long and distressing saga for Robert's wife, three children and his wider family and friends.' Speaking to Irish national broadcaster RTE, Pether's wife, Desree Pether, said her husband was 'not well at all' and 'really needs to just come home so he can get the proper medical care he needs'. 'He's completely unrecognisable. It's a shock to the system to see how far he has declined,' she said.
Shafaq News
7 hours ago
- Shafaq News
Israeli Navy confronts Gaza-bound aid ship 'Madeleine'
Shafaq News/ Israeli naval forces surrounded the 'Madeleine' aid ship on Monday, as it approached Gaza carrying humanitarian aid and 12 international activists. The ship, part of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, has drawn global attention amid Israeli efforts to block its arrival. Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in the Palestinian territories, reported that five Israeli military boats encircled the 'Madeleine.' She noted that the ship's captain instructed the crew to remain calm, stay seated, and wear life jackets, while the activists informed Israeli soldiers that they were carrying humanitarian supplies and planned to leave peacefully. Earlier, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition said the 'Madeleine,' also known as 'Madleen,' was 160 nautical miles from Gaza, aiming to enter the territory's waters to highlight the ongoing humanitarian crisis. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz ordered the military to intercept the ship, describing it as a 'hate flotilla' and warning activists, including Greta Thunberg, to turn back. Activists on board remain defiant, stating, 'We will not be intimidated. The world is watching.' They emphasized that the ship is unarmed and sailing in international waters. Israeli media report that the navy plans to intercept the vessel before it reaches Gaza's territorial waters, tow it to Ashdod port, and deport the activists. Israeli officials are said to be coordinating efforts to limit global coverage of the operation. Reuters reported that the Freedom Flotilla Coalition has sounded an alarm on board the 'Madeleine' in anticipation of interception. Meanwhile, activists have reported experiencing temporary signal jamming, which they suspect is an attempt by Israeli authorities to disrupt communications and control information about the voyage. The ship's mission comes as Gaza faces what international agencies warn is a 'catastrophic humanitarian situation.' Since October 7, 2023, about 90% of Gaza's population—around 1.9 million people—have been displaced, many multiple times. Most of Gaza's territory is now either militarized or under displacement orders, with severe shortages of shelter supplies. The entire population faces acute food insecurity, with over a million people in 'Emergency' hunger phase and nearly 470,000 people in famine conditions, according to the IPC classification. Markets have seen essential items disappear, while 14,100 children under five are at risk of severe acute malnutrition. The World Health Organization warns that Gaza's health system is near total collapse, with only 38% of health facilities partially functional and hospitals at risk of shutdown due to attacks and access restrictions. North Gaza has nearly no healthcare capacity remaining. Critical medical supplies are dwindling rapidly. Humanitarian aid access remains severely restricted despite international appeals, with Israel's blockade and security restrictions limiting entry of vital food, water, and medicine. UN agencies such as UNRWA have faced prolonged bans on bringing in supplies. Beyond food and medical care, there are widespread shortages of clean water, sanitation, and hygiene, compounding health risks and disease spread. Journalists in Gaza have also paid a heavy price, with more than 130 media workers killed since October 7, many of them Palestinian reporters. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, at least 54,880 Palestinians have been killed and 126,227 injured. Many more victims remain trapped under rubble or in inaccessible areas, with some UN reports suggesting the real toll may be even higher.
Shafaq News
9 hours ago
- Shafaq News
Baghdad, Amman push cooperation on economy and environment
Shafaq News/ Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid met, on Sunday, with Jordan's King Abdullah II in Nice, France, to advance bilateral ties and coordinate responses to regional crises, including the war in Gaza. The meeting, held during the UN's Third Ocean Conference, included Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Fuad Hussein and Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman al-Safadi and centered on boosting trade, aligning economic policies, and expanding environmental cooperation—especially in water conservation and biodiversity. Rashid urged joint efforts on climate goals and sustainable development. رئيس الجمهورية @LJRashid يلتقي جلالة الملك عبدالله الثاني ابن الحسين، على هامش مؤتمر الأمم المتحدة الثالث للمحيطات في مدينة نيس الفرنسية, ويبحثان تعزيز العلاقات بين البلدين الشقيقين وسبل تطويرها في المجالات كافة، وتوسيع التعاون والتبادل التجاري بما يخدم المصالح المشتركة للشعبين. — رئاسة جمهورية العراق (@IraqiPresidency) June 8, 2025 The leaders also discussed regional stability and reaffirmed support for Palestinian statehood, calling for urgent humanitarian aid to Gaza. King Abdullah backed stronger Iraq-Jordan cooperation, urging implementation of resolutions from the recent Arab League summit in Baghdad.
