Latest news with #Sadrists
Shafaq News
26-04-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Police outnumbered: Sadrists stage jailbreak in Iraq's Najaf
Shafaq News/ Dozens of supporters of Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, the head of the Patriotic Shiite Movement (Sadrists), surrounded a police station in central Najaf late Friday night, freeing four detainees affiliated with al-Sadr's movement, a security source told Shafaq News. The source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the confrontation erupted after security forces arrested four members of Saraya al-Salam, the armed wing of the Movement. The men were detained while attempting to raise flags representing the Movement atop al-Zahraa bridges in the center of the city, leading to a verbal altercation with police. 'Later, more than 200 Sadrists gathered and besieged the Maysan neighborhood police station,' the source said. 'They managed to forcibly release the detainees after surrounding the building.' The security source added that police forces were overwhelmed by the size of the crowd and were unable to regain control of the situation or re-arrest the freed individuals.
Shafaq News
28-03-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Iraq Elections: Al-Sadr's Move, Coordination Framework's gamble, and new forces
Shafaq News/ On Thursday, Muqtada al-Sadr's announcement to steer clear of the upcoming elections sent shockwaves through Iraq's political landscape, reigniting calls to purge the political system of corrupt figures and money launderers. As tensions mount, a new wave of civil forces is emerging, signaling a potential shift in the nation's leadership and a fierce battle for the next government's formation. The 2021 Iraqi parliamentary elections, conducted under a new electoral law designed to reduce the influence of entrenched political elites, revealed growing divisions among Shiite factions and shifted Iraq's political power dynamics. Muqtada al-Sadr 's Movement emerged as the biggest winner, securing 73 out of the 329 seats in Iraq's Parliament. This victory reinforced his position as a major political force, surpassing long-standing Shiite parties such as Nouri al-Maliki's State of Law Coalition. Al-Sadr's populist appeal and anti-corruption message resonated especially with Iraq's youth, many of whom felt disenfranchised by the political establishment. Political fragmentation deepened in 2022 when Muqtada al-Sadr ordered his 73 MPs to resign in protest against political gridlock and corruption. His withdrawal allowed the Coordination Framework to take control of government formation and provided an opportunity for Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani to consolidate power. Now, with elections looming in October, political maneuvering is escalating. Muqtada al-Sadr's potential return to politics is seen as a pivotal factor. Rahman al-Jazaeri, a senior figure in the Coordination Framework, indicated that an official announcement on the return of al-Sadr's Patriotic Shiite Movement is expected after Ramadan. "If al-Sadr re-enters the race, he will undoubtedly be a major contender," he confirmed. Al-Sadr's possible comeback has already drawn responses from political rivals. In February, his movement sharply responded to comments by Nouri al-Maliki, who stated that the Coordination Framework would remain a dominant force in the next government, whether or not the Sadrists returned to the political arena. A senior Sadrist figure dismissed any notion of collaboration, stating, "If our movement re-enters the political scene, it will be on our terms. We have no intention of joining forces with the Coordination Framework." The stakes are high, and internal divisions persist within the Coordination Framework. A key question is whether its factions can bridge their differences and form strategic alliances with smaller parties. If successful, they could pose a significant challenge to both the Sadrists and Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani's administration. One significant possibility is the resurgence of the Patriotic Shiite Movement. Although Muqtada al-Sadr withdrew from politics in 2022, his influence remains strong, particularly among Iraq's disillusioned youth and working-class supporters. Should he choose to re-engage, his return could challenge the Coordination Framework and destabilize al-Sudani's government. In response to a question from one of his supporters about participating in the upcoming Iraqi parliamentary elections, al-Sadr declared, "Let it be known to all, as long as corruption exists, I will not participate in any flawed electoral process, which is only concerned with sectarian and party interests, far removed from the suffering of the people and the disasters that have befallen the region due to Iraq's involvement in foreign conflicts." He continued, "I still rely on the obedience of the loyal supporters of the Sadrist Movement in the Shiite Patriotic Movement, and as I instructed them to vote, today I direct them not to vote or run for office, as it is a support for sin. We remain loyal to Iraq and will sacrifice our lives for it, without hesitation." Al-Sadr further stated, "What benefit is there in participating with corrupt individuals and Baathists while Iraq is gasping for breath, dominated by foreign powers and deep state forces?" In recent months, there were speculations about al-Sadr's potential return to the political process, especially after he urged his followers to update their electoral data. Several political blocs sent representatives to Najaf to assess al-Sadr's stance on the upcoming elections. A source close to Muqtada al-Sadr confirmed on Thursday that al-Sadr had definitively closed the door on any participation in the upcoming elections. The source told Shafaq News that, "Al-Sadr has made it clear that neither he nor any of his political followers or former MPs will participate in the elections. This decision is binding for everyone, even those who wish to run on other lists or alliances, as those individuals will be considered as outside the Sadrist Movement." The source concluded by saying that "anyone who participates in the elections will be expelled from the Shiite National Movement and will no longer be considered a part of al-Sadr's circle." On the other hand, political analyst Kamal Nuwaf al-Ghreiri, a former MP and leader in the "Initiative Bloc (Mubadara)," agreed with al-Sadr's stance, stating that "the large political blocs and leaderships have failed in their work over the past period, leading the political scene from failure to failure, and they have not delivered the country to safety." Al-Ghreiri emphasized, "The people are now suffering from a lack of services, agriculture, industry, health, education, and everything else. Therefore, the people must determine their stance and their future with these leaders who have led the country to collapse." He added, "There is a new stage ahead, which is the elections, and the people must reject the corrupt and the money thieves and not repeat the same faces in every election. Political work should be left to professionals and competent individuals, as Iraq will never be devoid of qualified people." The 2021 Iraqi parliamentary elections, held under a new electoral law aimed at diminishing the power of entrenched political elites, exposed deepening divisions among Shiite factions and reshaped Iraq's political landscape. Muqtada al-Sadr's Movement emerged as the biggest winner, securing 73 out of 329 seats in Iraq's Parliament. This victory solidified al-Sadr's position as a formidable political force, surpassing long-established Shiite parties such as Nouri al-Maliki's State of Law Coalition. Al-Sadr's populist rhetoric and anti-corruption message resonated strongly with Iraq's youth, many of whom felt disillusioned by the political establishment. In 2022, political fragmentation intensified when al-Sadr instructed his 73 MPs to resign in protest against political gridlock and corruption. This move allowed the Coordination Framework to take control of government formation, allowing Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani to consolidate power. As the October elections approach, political maneuvering is reaching a boiling point, with al-Sadr's potential return to politics now a key factor in the upcoming battle for power. Rahman al-Jazaeri, a senior figure within the Coordination Framework, confirmed that an official announcement regarding the return of al-Sadr's Patriotic Shiite Movement would likely come after the holy month of Ramadan. 'If al-Sadr re-enters the race, he will undoubtedly be a major contender,' he stated. Al-Sadr's potential return has already triggered responses from his political adversaries. In February, his movement sharply rebutted comments from Nouri al-Maliki, who suggested that the Coordination Framework would remain dominant in the next government, regardless of the Sadrists' participation. A senior Sadrist figure dismissed any notion of collaboration, stating, 'If our movement re-enters the political scene, it will be on our terms. We have no intention of joining forces with the Coordination Framework.' Despite his withdrawal from politics in 2022, al-Sadr's influence remains strong, particularly among Iraq's disillusioned youth and working-class supporters. Should he choose to re-engage, his return could destabilize the Coordination Framework and threaten al-Sudani's grip on power. In response to a question from a supporter about participating in the upcoming elections, al-Sadr declared, 'Let it be known to all, as long as corruption exists, I will not participate in any flawed electoral process, which is only concerned with sectarian and party interests, far removed from the suffering of the people and the disasters that have befallen the region due to Iraq's involvement in foreign conflicts.' He continued, 'I still rely on the obedience of the loyal supporters of the Sadrist Movement in the Shiite Patriotic Movement, and as I instructed them to vote, today I direct them not to vote or run for office, as it is a support for sin. We remain loyal to Iraq and will sacrifice our lives for it, without hesitation.' 'What benefit is there in participating with corrupt individuals and Baathists while Iraq is gasping for breath, dominated by foreign powers and deep state forces?' In recent months, speculation about al-Sadr's possible return to the political process intensified, especially after he encouraged his followers to update their electoral data. Several political blocs sent representatives to Najaf to assess his stance on the upcoming elections. A source close to al-Sadr confirmed on Thursday that al-Sadr had definitively closed the door on any participation in the upcoming elections. 'Al-Sadr has made it clear that neither he nor any of his political followers or former MPs will participate in the elections. This decision is binding for everyone, even those who wish to run on other lists or alliances, as those individuals will be considered as outside the Sadrist Movement,' the source told Shafaq News. The source concluded, 'Anyone who participates in the elections will be expelled from the Shiite National Movement and will no longer be considered a part of al-Sadr's circle.' Political analyst Kamal Nuwaf al-Ghreiri, a former MP and leader in the Initiative Bloc (Mubadara), agreed with al-Sadr's stance, stating, 'The large political blocs and leaderships have failed in their work over the past period, leading the political scene from failure to failure, and they have not delivered the country to safety.' He emphasized, 'The people are now suffering from a lack of services, agriculture, industry, health, education, and everything else. Therefore, the people must determine their stance and their future with these leaders who have led the country to collapse.' Al-Ghreiri further stated, 'There is a new stage ahead, which is the elections, and the people must reject the corrupt and the money thieves and not repeat the same faces in every election. Political work should be left to professionals and competent individuals, as Iraq will never be devoid of qualified people.' However, al-Sadr's call for his supporters not to participate in the elections could "give many political forces space to try to win part of the Sadrist Movement's constituency, especially as the shape of the alliances remains unclear," according to Khalid Walid, a spokesperson for the Nazil Akhodh Haqqi movement. Walid explained that "the current situation is murky, with the Coordination Framework still engaged in discussions on how to approach the elections, whether through separate electoral lists or alliances. There are talks of Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani seeking to form a broad electoral coalition." "The civil forces are no better off; they remain fragmented and unclear, lacking many elements necessary for success. By 'elements,' I mean not only political leadership or human resources, but also election machinery, financial support, and a shared political cover among all parties. These details weaken their chances in forming a civil alliance without other forces." Walid revealed that discussions are ongoing between several civil forces, as well as second- and third-tier traditional political forces, some of which have social roots in various provinces. Some of these groups are members of provincial councils or former governors. He pointed out that these civil forces, together with other factions, could represent the beginning of the next government's formation, creating a mix of forces seeking change and those that were dissatisfied with the traditional parties' inability to achieve stability and a sound democratic transition since 2003. But the current situation, according to him, is complicated and opaque, and it will take about a month or two for electoral alliances to take shape, especially given the ongoing regional and international pressures, the approaching summer, the energy and economic files, and many other events that could affect the coming period. Regional and international transformations also play a role, as political analyst Mujashah al-Tamimi noted that "the next Iraqi government will likely be the result of a delicate balance between local political forces and regional and international influences, with challenges in preserving national sovereignty and achieving political stability." Al-Tamimi explained, "In light of rapid changes in the international system, everyone is awaiting the emergence of a new Middle East, with Iraq playing a central role in reshaping the geopolitical landscape of the region." Finally, regarding the electoral law, the leader of the Al-Khat Al-Watani Movement, Hamed al-Sayed, believes that the law, with itsSainte-Laguë system, will continue to be a barrier for emerging forces to compete with traditional political powers, "as it was tailored to suit the powers controlling the government, the same powers that Iraqis protested against in 2019." Regional and international dynamics are also crucial factors in shaping Iraq's future political landscape. Political analyst Mujashah al-Tamimi observed that the next Iraqi government will likely emerge from a delicate balance between local political forces and external influences. He cautioned that this balance poses significant challenges, particularly in preserving Iraq's national sovereignty while striving for political stability. Al-Tamimi elaborated on the broader context, stating, "In light of rapid changes in the international system, everyone is awaiting the emergence of a new Middle East, with Iraq playing a central role in reshaping the geopolitical landscape of the region." In addition, Hamed al-Sayed, leader of the Al-Khat Al-Watani Movement, highlighted a key hurdle for emerging political forces in Iraq. He argued that the electoral law, particularly its use of the Sainte-Laguë system, continues to favor established political powers. Al-Sayed stated, "The law was tailored to suit the powers controlling the government, the same powers that Iraqis protested against in 2019." This system, he contended, remains a significant obstacle for new political movements seeking to challenge the entrenched elites.
