Latest news with #Sadrist
Rudaw Net
04-07-2025
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Sadr reaffirms boycott of Iraqi election
Also in Iraq Kurdish farmer disappears in Kirkuk, ISIS suspected Iraq installs speed cameras, records 10,000 violations in first day Erbil-Kirkuk road reopens after Turkmen protests over appointment of Kurdish official Makhmour camp residents warn of 'humanitarian catastrophe' amid blockade A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Influential Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr on Friday reiterated his decision to boycott Iraq's upcoming parliamentary elections, scheduled for November. He called for reforms to political and security structures, including the disarmament of militias. 'Whoever wants to boycott, let them boycott, and whoever wants to pursue the lust for power as their path, let them do so, but justice will not be established,' Sadr said in a statement. 'Falsehood will not be repelled, except by surrendering uncontrolled weapons to the hands of the state, dissolving militias, strengthening the army and police, guaranteeing Iraq's independence and non-dependence, and serious pursuit of reform and holding the corrupt accountable,' he added. Sadr first announced his intention to boycott the 2025 legislative elections in March, citing widespread corruption. In April, he rejected a formal invitation from Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid to reverse his decision, saying he 'will not participate with the corrupt, the insolent, and the enemies of the people.' In Iraq's October 2021 elections, Sadr's bloc emerged as the largest, winning 73 out of 329 parliamentary seats. However, a year-long political stalemate with the Shiite-led Coordination Framework over government formation prompted Sadr to withdraw his lawmakers from parliament. His attempt to form a government with Kurdish and Sunni parties was blocked by the Framework, which insisted on maintaining Iraq's post-2003 consensus model that balances power between the major groups. Sadr fueled speculation about a political comeback in early March when he hosted around 200 former Sadrist parliamentarians at his residence in Najaf. Shortly afterward, he urged supporters to prepare for the vote, warning that poor electoral choices could worsen corruption and poverty. In mid-February, Sadr called on his supporters to update their voter registration records. However, former Sadrist lawmaker Rafi Abduljabbar Azzawi told Rudaw at the time that this move did not necessarily signal a reversal of the boycott, but rather an effort to mobilize Iraqis for what Sadr described as a critical period.
Shafaq News
20-06-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Sadrist protesters rally against Israeli strikes on Iran
Shafaq News/ On Friday, hundreds of the Patriotic Shiite Movement (the Sadrist) supporters demonstrated across Iraq, responding to their leader, Muqtada al-Sadr, to protest against Israeli attacks on Iran. In Baghdad, protesters gathered as Ibrahim al-Jabri, head of al-Sadr's office in the capital, addressed the crowd, accusing Israel of 'violating humanitarian principles by targeting health and education sites in Iran.' As he described Israel and the United States as adversaries of Islamic nations, chants echoed through the demonstration, including 'No No America,' 'No No Israel,' 'Yes Yes to Peace,' and 'Yes Yes to Iraq.' In Karbala, dozens of Sadrist followers and tribal representatives held a peaceful rally followed by a joint Friday prayer in the Hawr district. Participants carried banners criticizing what they called global corruption attributed to Israel and calling for an end to foreign interference in the region. Demonstrators expressed support for Iran, commending its stance on regional issues and opposition to Israeli and US influence. In Babil, hundreds marched to condemn Israeli strikes, voicing opposition to actions they viewed as violations of human rights. Al-Sadr's office quoted him as warning that any attack authorized by the current US president would invite 'divine punishment,' drawing comparisons to the consequences faced by former Presidents Jimmy Carter and George W. Bush over past actions in the Middle East.
Shafaq News
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Muqtada al-Sadr urges mass protests against US–Israel actions
Shafaq News/ On Wednesday, Iraqi Patriotic Shiite Movement (Sadrist) leader Muqtada al-Sadr urged Iraqis to take to the streets in peaceful, coordinated protests following Friday prayers, condemning what he labeled as 'Zionist [Israeli] and American terrorism' and their 'colonial expansion.' Al-Sadr called on citizens in all provinces to participate in unified demonstrations, citing religious, ideological, and humanitarian motives. He accused Washington and Tel Aviv of committing massacres and launching attacks on regional nations, naming Iran, Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen. Al-Sadr further condemned recent Israeli strikes and the alleged use of Iraqi airspace for foreign military operations, calling it a violation of Iraqi sovereignty. 'The breach of our internationally protected skies endangers the people, our sanctities, and our national values,' he warned.
Shafaq News
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Iraq's al-Sadr denounces Israeli attacks on Iran
Shafaq News/ Iraqi Patriotic Shiite Movement (Sadrist) leader Muqtada al-Sadr condemned, on Friday, Israel's military attack on Iran. In a statement on X, al-Sadr accused the 'Zionist entity [Israel]' of crossing red lines with US backing, warning that Iran may not be the last target if escalation continues. He called on Iraqi leaders to keep the country out of the conflict. 'Iraq and its people do not need new wars,' he said, urging restraint and a rejection of 'insolent voices' pushing for confrontation. Al-Sadr also denounced Israel's alleged use of Iraqi airspace to carry out the strikes, calling on Baghdad to respond through legal and diplomatic channels. — مقتدى السيد محمد الصدر (@Mu_AlSadr) June 13, 2025 His remarks follow Israel's launch of Operation Rising Lion, a coordinated assault on Iranian nuclear and military sites. The strikes, confirmed by both Israeli and Iranian authorities, targeted key facilities, including the Natanz enrichment plant and the Ahmadi Roshan complex in Isfahan. Tehran confirmed damage but denied any radioactive leaks. In retaliation for the Israeli attack, Iran launched over 800 drones toward Israel early Friday. An Israeli military spokesperson confirmed air defense systems were fully engaged, with support from international partners tracking and intercepting incoming threats.
Shafaq News
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Al-Nasr warns: Iraq's political map hinges on November elections
Shafaq News/ The upcoming parliamentary elections will be the key determinant of Iraq's next government and the fate of the State Administration Coalition (SAC), al-Nasr Coalition, led by former Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, said on Sunday. Coalition spokesperson Salam al-Zubaidi told Shafaq News that speculation about the shape of the next cabinet is premature and should be left to the post-election landscape. 'Everything depends on what the ballot boxes yield. Current discussions are purely personal opinions, as no such proposals have been formally addressed within the Coordination Framework's meetings,' he said. Al-Zubaidi emphasized that the structure of Iraq's future government will be shaped by voter turnout and how political leaders form alliances after results are in. 'The current SAC is not a traditional political alliance but rather a coordination body established amid the vacuum created by the Sadrist withdrawal,' he noted, adding that the upcoming vote could either dissolve or reconfigure the coalition. He warned that low voter turnout could lead to the continued dominance of powerful blocs, keeping the political status quo intact. 'But if emerging or independent forces win enough seats, the landscape could change significantly,' he said. Iraq is preparing for legislative elections scheduled for November 11, 2025, with political parties launching preparations as early as April. According to Iraq's Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC), 106 political parties and 10 independent lists have registered interest in participating, alongside nine political coalitions, with one newly approved so far.
