Latest news with #Shiite-dominated
Business Recorder
19-05-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Saudi airline resumes first Iran Hajj flights since 2015
RIYADH: A Saudi airline has resumed flights for Iranian Hajj pilgrims to the kingdom for the first time in a decade, the latest sign of the warming ties between the countries. 'Flynas resumed Iranian pilgrims flights from Imam Khomeini (airport) in Tehran on Saturday,' a Saudi civil aviation authority official told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity. The official said flights would also be added from Mashhad in Iran, allowing more than 35,000 pilgrims to travel to Saudi Arabia on the airline. Flynas is a budget airline based in Saudi Arabia, which operates domestic and international routes. The official stressed that the flights were not commercial and were only for the hajj pilgrimage. The hajj is due to begin during the first week of June, and pilgrims from across the globe have already begun pouring into Saudi Arabia. Shiite-dominated Iran and Sunni-majority Saudi Arabia resumed relations in March 2023 under a surprise China-brokered deal after a seven-year rupture. Saudi Arabia severed relations with Iran in 2016 after its embassy in Tehran and consulate in the northwestern city of Mashhad were attacked during protests after Saudi Arabia executed Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr. No Iranian pilgrims were allowed into Saudi Arabia in 2016, the year that ties were ruptured, as the two sides were unable to organise a protocol for them to attend. In September 2015, a stampede during the hajj killed up to 2,300 worshippers, among them hundreds of Iranians.
Rudaw Net
11-02-2025
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Maliki calls for ‘separate' revote on three controversial law amendments
Also in Iraq Iraq strikes suspected ISIS hideout in Salahaddin Iraqi finance minister says 'surprised' by president's lawsuit Iraqi ministry says Syria border 'completely secured' Iraqi president sues premier, finance minister over unpaid KRG salaries A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Former Iraqi prime minister and head of the State of Law coalition Nouri al-Maliki on Sunday called for separate revotes on three controversial bills passed last month. Referring to the general amnesty, the property restitution and the personal status laws, Maliki argued that they were 'not legislated correctly' and ought to be 'returned to the parliament and voted on separately.' Amendments to these three laws were introduced in parliament last year and after months of political bickering, the Iraqi legislature on January 21 passed all three in a surprise move. Maliki criticized the passing of all three bills in one go. In an indirect reference to the general amnesty law, the veteran politician argued that the one-basket voting led to 'the passage of a problematic bill' with other legislations that are valid. The general amnesty, introduced by Sunni lawmakers in the Iraqi legislature, amends the 2016 law's interpretation of affiliation with terrorist organizations. The amendment was a top prerequisite for Sunni blocs to join the ruling State Administration Coalition. Sunnis argue that thousands from their community have been unjustly imprisoned since 2003 in Shiite-dominated Iraq, over alleged terrorism links. Maliki insisted however that his objection was not to the release of 'innocent individuals or those who committed minor offenses,' but rather the potential consequences of this legislation. Moreover, the three laws have recently emerged as a topic of contention between the country's top judicial authorities. The Federal Supreme Court suspended the implementation of the laws after several legislators questioned the voting process. The Supreme Judicial Council criticized the top court's decision as premature. In light of the ongoing dispute, Maliki urged all sides to 'respect and adhere to the rulings of [both] the Supreme Judicial Council and the Federal Supreme Court.'
Rudaw Net
09-02-2025
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Sunni party urges amnesty for prisoners in KRG-run prisons in Kirkuk
Also in Iraq Landmine blast kills three family members in Basra Iraq to repatriate 155 families from al-Hol: Monitor Iraqi justice ministry says holding 65,000 prisoners Several ISIS suspects arrested in Kirkuk A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Sunni Azm Alliance on Sunday called for the inclusion of prisoners held in Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG)-administered prisons in Kirkuk under the recently passed general amnesty law. 'A large number of our [Sunni Arab] prisoners are in jails run by the KRG in Kirkuk,' spokesperson of the Azm alliance in Kirkuk told Rudaw. Azzam al-Hamadani added that the general amnesty law should apply to these prisoners, whom he alleged were in the 'thousands.' The Iraqi justice ministry spokesperson Ahmed Laibi told Rudaw on Sunday, that apart from those in the Kurdistan Region, there are 65,000 prisoners in Iraq's jails. He added that Baghdad is preparing to implement the general amnesty law upon its publishing in the Official Gazette. The general amnesty, introduced by Sunni lawmakers in the Iraqi legislature, amends the 2016 law's interpretation of affiliation with terrorist organizations. The amendment was a top prerequisite for Sunni blocs to join the ruling State Administration Coalition. Sunnis argue that thousands from their community have been unjustly imprisoned since 2003 in Shiite-dominated Iraq, over alleged terrorism links. However, the amnesty law has emerged as a topic of dispute between the country's top judicial authorities in recent days. The Federal Supreme Court suspended the implementation of the law after several legislators questioned the validity of the vote that passed it. The Supreme Judicial Council criticized the top court's decision as premature. Hamadani urged the Supreme Judicial Council to form a committee to investigate the fate of detainees and missing persons and called on the KRG to assist in the investigations. He suggested that a committee between Baghdad and Erbil be established to resolve the issue. The Islamic State (ISIS) seized control of vast swathes of Iraqi territory in 2014. During the battles for liberation, widespread arrests - particularly in Sunni-majority provinces like Anbar, Nineveh, and Saladin - with many accused of links to the jihadist group. Nahro Mohammed contributed to this report.
Rudaw Net
09-02-2025
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Iraqi justice ministry says holding 65,000 prisoners
Also in Iraq Iraq to repatriate 155 families from al-Hol: Monitor Several ISIS suspects arrested in Kirkuk US terror labels on Iraqi armed groups would cause 'chaos': Sources Iraq says three ISIS leaders killed in airstrike A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraq's justice ministry on Sunday said it is holding 65,000 prisoners across the country, excluding the Kurdistan Region and detainees held by security forces. 'There are 65,000 prisoners in Iraqi prisons,' ministry spokesperson Ahmed Laibi told Rudaw, adding that 85 children are also being held alongside their mothers in prison. A total of 1,600 foreign prisoners are also present in Iraq, according to Laibi, who added that the ministry operates 30 prisons across the country. The number excludes the Kurdistan Region's prisons and those held by security forces and different armed groups around the country. Iraq is preparing to free many prisoners under a general amnesty law, which Laibi said the ministry will exercise once it is published in the Official Gazette. The general amnesty, submitted by Sunni lawmakers, amended the 2016 law's definition of affiliation with terrorist organizations. This change was a key prerequisite for Sunni blocs to agree to join the ruling State Administration Coalition. Sunnis argue that thousands from their community have been unjustly imprisoned in Shiite-dominated Iraq since 2003 over alleged terrorism links. But the law is also caught amid a judicial row between Iraq's top judicial authorities – the Federal Supreme Court and the Supreme Judicial Council. On Tuesday, Iraq's Federal Supreme Court temporarily suspended the implementation of the general amnesty law and two other laws concerning personal status and the return of land confiscated under the former Baath regime to its original owners. The Supreme Judicial Council criticized the court's decision the next day as 'premature and irrelevant.' The three laws have created controversy since they were introduced in the parliament last year. After months of political bickering, the parliament passed all three in a surprise move on January 21. The Islamic State (ISIS) seized control of vast swathes of Iraqi territory in 2014. During the liberation process, thousands of people were arrested for alleged links to the jihadist group, especially in Sunni areas like Nineveh province. Nahro Mohammed contributed to this report.
