Pro-Sadr protesters occupy parliament ‘until further notice’

In Iraq, the political impasse continues and tensions are rising. Supporters of Shiite political leader Muqtada al-Sadr stormed, on Saturday, July 30, for the second time this week, the Iraqi parliament, after entering the highly secure Green Zone in Baghdad, which includes government institutions and embassies. Announced supporters “Sit [qui durera] until a further notice “According to a brief statement of the Sadrist movement. An AFP photographer who was with the protesters entered Parliament with them.

Iraqi security forces initially tried to push back the protesters using tear gas. Without success: Like Wednesday, Muqtada al-Sadr’s supporters finally entered the parliament’s circles to reject the candidate for prime minister presented by Mr. Sadr’s opponents.

The political stalemate is complete in Iraq, which is still waiting for the appointment of a new president and prime minister. Ten months after the legislative elections in October 2021. King-maker and political troublemaker, Shiite leader Muqtada al-Sadr has launched a campaign of maximum pressure on his opponents.

All people are with you Mr. Muqtada! »The demonstrators chanted his title of descendant of the Prophet of Islam. The demonstrators denounced the nomination of Muhammad Shea al-Sudani for the position of prime minister, who is considered close to former Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, the historical enemy of al-Sadr.

” Revolution “

Mr. Al-Sudani, who comes from the political Serajillion, is the candidate of the Coordination Framework, an alliance of pro-Iranian Shiite factions that includes the party of former Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and representatives of the Popular Mobilization Forces, and former paramilitaries integrated into the regular forces.

Although he has now decided to keep up the pressure on his opponents, Mr. Sadr nonetheless left them to form the government through the resignation in June of his 73 deputies: they are the main force within parliament’s 329 deputies.

We wanted to wait for the government to form to evaluate its performance, give it a chance if it was good, or challenge it if it wasn’t.Shiite politician Ammar al-Hakim, an ally of the coordination framework, recently expressed his displeasure in an interview with the BBC’s Arab broadcaster.

The Sadrist movement has a problem with the idea that the coordination framework will form the government. If not Mr. Sudani, if a second or third candidate is nominated, we can also anticipate objections.”Saucepan.

“The continued political escalation increases tensions on the street”, regrets in a press statement to the current Prime Minister, Mustafa Al-Kazemi. In total, at least 100 demonstrators and 25 members of the security forces were injured, Saturday, on the sidelines of the demonstrations, according to the Ministry of Health.

We are here for a reformist revolution (…)To make the people victorious and Muqtada al-Sadr the leader.”Haider al-Lami fired a demonstrator. “We don’t want the corrupt and we don’t want to try people we’ve already seen” In power, he said in an interview with AFP. “They brought us nothing, from 2003 until now they are the same, they have harmed us.”

During the night from Friday to Saturday, Muqtada al-Sadr’s supporters looted the offices of Mr. Maliki’s Dawa Party in Baghdad, as well as the headquarters of the Shiite Wisdom Party, and the training of politician Ammar al-Hakim within the framework of coordination, according to a security source.