Latest news with #Sunni-majority
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.
The Hindu
18-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Saudi airline resumes first Iran hajj flights since 2015: official
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. Shia-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. Pilgrims from Iran were later allowed to join the hajj but only allowed to travel to Saudi Arabia on Iranian chartered flights during the hajj season. But since the March 2023 Iranian-Saudi rapprochement, the regional powers have intensified their contacts. The two exchanged ambassadors and visits of foreign ministers before the late Ebrahim Raisi made the first visit by an Iranian president to the kingdom in 20 years for a joint Arab-Islamic summit on the Gaza war in November 2023. In December, Iran Air resumed operations between Mashhad and Dammam in eastern Saudi Arabia. And last month, Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman travelled in a rare visit by a Saudi royal to Iran where he also met supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The moves come as the United States and Iran have held four rounds of talks aimed at hammering out a new accord on Tehran's nuclear programme. U.S. President Donald Trump hinted during his tour of the Gulf that the two sides were "getting close" to a deal, but also warned Tehran to move quickly towards sealing an agreement or "something bad will happen". Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi visited Saudi Arabia just days before Trump began his regional tour last week.
L'Orient-Le Jour
09-05-2025
- Politics
- L'Orient-Le Jour
Municipal elections: Races to follow in North Lebanon
A week after municipal elections in Mount Lebanon, voters in the North and Akkar governorates are set to elect their local councils on Sunday, May 11. More than 600,000 registered voters across the districts of Tripoli, Minyeh-Dinnieh, Bsharri, Batroun, Koura, Zgharta and Akkar are called to the most areas, the competition is driven by family ties or strictly local considerations. But politics often seeps in — especially amid rising polarization over Hezbollah and its weapons. The prolonged absence of former Prime Minister Saad Hariri and his Future Movement has further complicated the picture, leaving many Sunni-majority areas in the North without a clear political center of are some of the main races to watch. Read more Municipal elections in Mount Lebanon: Key takeaways from the day An uncertain outcome in...
Shafaq News
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Sunni political alliances shift as Iraq prepares for November elections
Shafaq News/ Iraq's Sunni political landscape is undergoing a renewed phase of realignment and strategic positioning ahead of the parliamentary elections scheduled for November 11. With internal competition, fading alliances, and the re-emergence of veteran figures, the Sunni front is mobilizing to secure its place in Baghdad and regain ground lost since the upheaval of 2014. Shafaq News has learned that four main forces are set to dominate the race in Sunni-majority provinces: Taqaddum (Progress) led by former Parliament Speaker Mohammed al-Halbousi, Al-Siyada (Sovereignty) under Khamis al-Khanjar, Azm (Determination) headed by Muthanna al-Samarrai, and the newly established New Baghdad Alliance, a coalition formed around Parliament Speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani and several prominent Sunni figures. While some movements are already engaging in campaign activity, others appear hesitant, uncertain whether the political calendar will hold in the face of Iraq's broader institutional volatility. Legacy of Fragmentation Sunni representation in Iraq's post-2003 political system has been shaped by successive cycles of marginalization, reconfiguration, and resurgence. After the ISIS territorial takeover in 2014 devastated Sunni heartlands, Sunni factions saw their influence diminish. In the 2018 parliamentary elections, Sunni MPs secured just 73 of 329 seats—a steep decline from the 90 seats held in the prior cycle. That number rebounded in 2021 to approximately 94, but the gains were short-lived. Internal discord has continued to fragment Sunni representation. In January 2022, two major camps—al-Halbousi's Taqaddum and al-Khanjar's Azm—joined forces under the Al-Siyada Alliance, commanding a combined bloc of 71 seats. But unity proved fleeting. Al-Halbousi eventually withdrew, citing differences in strategy and leadership, effectively dissolving the coalition's momentum. In January 2025, a new attempt at consolidation emerged with the formation of the Sunni Leadership Alliance, announced in Baghdad. However, the alliance was notably launched without al-Halbousi's participation, a signal of enduring rivalry within the Sunni sphere. Despite its high-profile launch, the grouping has yet to translate its formation into a coherent electoral strategy or policy action. Sources close to recent negotiations confirmed that in March, Speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani hosted a private meeting among leading Sunni figures, including al-Halbousi. The participants reportedly agreed on the need to maintain communal cohesion and refrain from escalating personal rivalries, which many see as a key obstacle to unified Sunni leverage in national politics. Major Blocs And Early Mobilization While formal coalition-building remains limited, campaign activity has already begun in several key provinces. Taqaddum and Azm have taken the lead, investing in candidate selection, media outreach, and constituency visits. Political operatives linked to Taqaddum are supporting several provincial lists, including the Iraq Hawks Movement led by Yazan Mishaan in Saladin, Minister of Planning Mohammed Tamim in Kirkuk, and Industry Minister Khalid Battal in Al-Anbar. Influential tribal leader Ahmed Abu Risha is also reportedly preparing an electoral push aligned with Taqaddum-backed platforms. Azm, under the leadership of Muthanna al-Samarrai, is now regarded as the most extensive Sunni alliance. It includes several prominent political veterans such as former Parliament Speaker Osama al-Nujaifi, former Deputy Prime Minister Rafi al-Issawi, and ideological affiliates like the Justice and Benevolence Movement (Harakat al-Adl wal-Ihsan). The coalition aims to present itself as a centrist bloc capable of bridging the Sunni political divide and reasserting influence in the national legislature. Despite Al-Siyada's continued presence under al-Khanjar, the coalition has yet to mount a clear electoral strategy for November. A political source close to the group suggested that al-Khanjar remains skeptical that elections will proceed as planned, citing the risk of a broader political transition that could sideline the current electoral timeline altogether. Nonetheless, insiders revealed signs of quiet coordination between Taqaddum and Al-Siyada, raising the possibility of a post-election alliance should mutual interests align. While no formal agreement has been reached, observers note that electoral pragmatism could override past tensions in pursuit of a stronger Sunni parliamentary bloc. Baghdad And Beyond: Key Battlegrounds Sunni parties are expected to compete fiercely in several strategic provinces, most notably Al-Anbar, Saladin, Nineveh, Diyala, and parts of Baghdad. The capital's mixed constituencies will be a crucial testing ground for the New Baghdad Alliance, which seeks to mobilize moderate urban Sunni voters disillusioned with established factions. Mahmoud al-Mashhadani is betting on his stature to draw in support for a platform grounded in technocratic governance and Sunni-Shiite dialogue. His coalition includes former civil servants and professionals aiming to offer an alternative to the dominant tribal- and personality-based politics in Sunni areas. Meanwhile, efforts are being made to incorporate younger voices and grassroots movements into campaign lists. While these initiatives remain limited in scope, they reflect a broader generational shift underway across Iraq's political spectrum. Opportunity Amid Uncertainty With less than seven months remaining before the scheduled vote, Iraq's Sunni political scene remains in flux. While Taqaddum and Azm appear most organized, the absence of a unified electoral front could weaken Sunni influence in a post-election government formation process. The legacy of mistrust, divergent leadership ambitions, and regional competition continues to challenge collective action. Yet the potential for realignment remains. Observers suggest that electoral outcomes in Sunni areas will depend not only on intra-bloc rivalries but also on national political developments, including potential electoral law changes, federal court rulings, and the fate of Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani's government. In this fluid environment, Iraq's Sunni leaders face a familiar dilemma: to compete or to coalesce. The answer, and its timing, may well determine the bloc's future relevance in a country still struggling to balance representation, stability, and reform.
Shafaq News
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Forbidden words? Iraq investigates Sovereignty Alliance chief
Shafaq News/ On Tuesday, Iraq's Supreme Judicial Council announced the launch of an investigation into a leaked audio recording allegedly featuring Khamis al-Khanjar, leader of the Sovereignty Alliance (Al-Siyada). The Third Karkh Investigative Court initiated proceedings after receiving a formal request from MPs Mohammed Jassem al-Khafaji and Amir Razzaq Ajlan, who urged legal action over the recording reportedly containing language 'violating Iraqi legal standards.' The controversy arose after an Iraqi television program aired a segment claiming to feature al-Khanjar making sectarian remarks about state institutions and Shiite-led governance following the 2003 political transition. However, the Alliance denied the recording's authenticity, calling it "forged." Khamis al-Khanjar is a prominent Sunni political figure and businessman, leading a coalition representing Sunni-majority provinces. He has played a significant role in Iraqi politics, advocating for Sunni interests and engaging in regional diplomacy, including efforts to maintain Iraq's neutrality in the Syrian conflict. Iraq has witnessed a rise in leaked audio recordings targeting political figures, often exposing alleged corruption or sectarian rhetoric. Notable cases include the 2022 leaks attributed to former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and the 2024 recording involving Yazan al-Jubouri, both prompting judicial investigations.
