Latest news with #MohammedAlial-Lami
Shafaq News
28-07-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Iraq's Integrity Commission warns parties over election fund misuse
Shafaq News – Baghdad The Iraqi Federal Commission of Integrity warned, on Monday, political parties against exploiting public funds or official positions for electoral gain. Speaking during a high-level meeting at the Commission's headquarters, Chairman Mohammed Ali al-Lami emphasized the need for close scrutiny of political financing and firm safeguards to prevent state resources or government roles from being misused for campaign purposes. Al-Lami introduced Behavioral Code No. 1 of 2025, which bans political activity in government offices, official meetings, and places of worship, calling on all institutions to apply the directive without exception. He confirmed ongoing coordination with the Accountability and Justice Commission to vet candidates using national identity records to flag those with prior corruption convictions, crediting the judiciary and the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) for advancing the screening process. To deter fraud and vote-buying, the Commission launched hotline 5080 for reporting violations, disclosing that several tips are already under investigation. Al-Lami also flagged active attempts to forge documents and manipulate the electoral process, describing such actions as a direct attack on the institution that embodies the people's will. He concluded by affirming the Commission's mandate to guarantee clean, transparent elections on November 11, aimed at restoring public trust and yielding a Parliament capable of delivering real services.
Shafaq News
26-06-2025
- Business
- Shafaq News
Iraq ramps up effort to recover Saddam-era assets abroad
Shafaq News – Baghdad Iraq is stepping up efforts to recover state funds and properties held overseas, particularly those still controlled by affiliates of the former Baathist regime, a government source told Shafaq News on Thursday. The recovery campaign, led in coordination with the Foreign Ministry, relies on legal documentation to facilitate repatriation. In a recent case, authorities recovered nearly $160M from a former intelligence official through formal procedures, though many of the assets were transferred abroad in the final years of Saddam Hussein's rule, as senior officials fled following the 2003 US-led invasion. Officials estimate that significant financial and real estate holdings remain under the control of regime loyalists, however, additional recoveries, including high-value properties in Europe, are anticipated in the coming phase. The effort is guided by official maps and registries detailing the distribution of Iraqi assets abroad. Authorities aim to resolve the entire portfolio and restore all identified properties to government control. Mohammed Ali al-Lami, head of Iraq's Asset Recovery Fund, urged faster processing of case files and called on the Foreign Ministry to accelerate their submission to international authorities within legal deadlines. The fund, tasked with reclaiming Iraq's stolen wealth, works in coordination with foreign governments and international legal entities.
Shafaq News
02-06-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Iraq's Anti-Corruption pledges close monitoring of campaign finances
Shafaq News/ Iraq's anti-corruption chief on Monday warned against the misuse of public funds in electoral campaigns, as the country gears up for parliamentary elections in November. During a meeting with officials from the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC), Mohammed Ali al-Lami, head of the Federal Commission of Integrity, announced plans to deploy field teams in Baghdad and other provinces. These teams will work in coordination with IHEC to monitor the electoral process and ensure that state resources are not exploited for political purposes. Al-Lami also emphasized that individuals with criminal convictions who have benefited from the General Amnesty Law are ineligible to run in the upcoming elections. He called on electoral authorities to require party leaders and founders to submit financial disclosure statements, 'underscoring the commission's intent to closely monitor party funding sources and spending in accordance with Iraqi law.'
Iraqi News
10-05-2025
- Business
- Iraqi News
FCoI commissioner: We have provided privileges and protection for those cooperating in uncovering corruption cases
Baghdad-INA The head of the Federal Commission of Integrity (FcoI), Mohammed Ali al-Lami, confirmed on Saturday that the government has made anti-corruption efforts a top priority in its program, he noted that Iraq succeeded in recovering more than half a billion dollars in smuggled funds in 2024, noting that the commission has provided privileges and protection to those who cooperate in uncovering corruption cases. Al-Lami said in an interview with the Iraqi News Agency (INA): "The Federal Integrity Commission enjoys support from the three branches of government," noting that "the government has placed (anti-corruption efforts) among the priorities of its curriculum and governmental program, which has been clearly reflected in the work of the commission; which has clearly contributed to accelerating the pace of work and the cooperation of state institutions in reducing corruption channels." He added that "the efforts of the government, the judiciary, and the supporting bodies supported the Commission's procedures to recover smuggled funds and provided fertile ground for cooperation with various countries around the world to overcome the difficulties facing these efforts, "he indicated that "the combination of national efforts led to Iraq's success in concluding many agreements, memoranda of understanding, and cooperation with many countries around the world where smuggled Iraqi funds and assets are located, or which were present before 2003, as an important and necessary step to recover them (and Iraq's success in recovering more than half a billion dollars of smuggled funds during the year 2024 is only a reflection of this cooperation, which will lead to greater successes in the near future)." Al-Lami pointed out that "the Commission's investigative work is a true embodiment of the principle of 'the accused is innocent until proven guilty,'" noting that "this commitment stems from the duties imposed by laws, human rights standards, the country's social nature, and its reputation in international forums, which we all strive to preserve; and to encourage investment opportunities and attract capital that supports reconstruction and development efforts, creates job opportunities, and reduces unemployment." He explained that "those following the Commission's recent activity clearly notice this through the Commission's keenness to refrain from publishing details of cases that are still under investigation and not to mention the explicit names of the accused in them," He explained that "the guarantees granted by law to the accused can provide clear evidence and help to reveal other accused in the cases that the Commission is considering without coercion or pressure. This is what the Commission follows during the investigation stages, which are under the direct supervision of the Integrity Judges." Al-Lami noted that 'the Authority's strategy for the next phase is based on working within the law and cooperating with everyone, in order to build a national environment that is resentful of corruption and openness to all state institutions to cooperate in reducing corruption paths, in the belief that this fateful battle requires concerted efforts and solidarity.' He stressed that 'the draft national strategy for the years (2025-2030) gave the private sector, civil society organizations, and international organizations an important role in implementation, in addition to state institutions, ministries, and its three authorities.' Regarding the challenges that may face the Commission's work during the next phase, the Commission's Chairman stressed his "true belief that any challenges that may face the Commission's work can be overcome and surmounted through the support that the Commission has received from the three authorities, the components of the people, and their national symbols."
