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Muqtada al-Sadr, Powerful Iraqi Cleric, Says He’s Leaving Politics


Influential Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr said on Monday that he would withdraw from Iraqi politics and shut down all of the movement’s political and social institutions, deepening the political crisis. of the country and raised concerns that his followers may increasingly turn to destabilizing street protests to achieve their goals. target.

His announcement sent hundreds of his followers into the streets of the capital Baghdad, where they broke down the concrete barriers that protect the so-called Green Zone, the seat of parliament, government offices. Iraq and its diplomatic missions, including the US Embassy. At least 12 protesters were killed and more than 100 injured as Iraqi security forces opened fire on them inside the Green Zone, according to two officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter.

Baghdad and most provinces were under curfew on Monday night. Neighboring Iran warned its citizens not to travel to Iraq until further notice and said it was working to get Iranian tourists home safely. Tehran’s international airport has suspended flights to Baghdad.

Iraq has not had a new government since last October election, in which candidates loyal to Mr. Sadr won the single largest number of seats and eclipsed rival Shiite political parties backed by Iran. That has left the country with a caring government unable to address pressing economic issues, such as passing an annual budget, among other priorities.

Mr. Sadr, whose militias fought US troops during the US occupation of Iraq, comes from a respected clerical family and is Iraq’s most influential Shiite religious figure to attend. get involved in politics. Amid disagreements with other parties over who should be president and prime minister, he turned the government formation process into chaos in June when he ordered members of Parliament to be loyal to him. resignation.

His followers then set up a tent camp to blockade Parliament for weeks to prevent lawmakers from meeting. They also occupied the Parliament building for a few days, but then withdrew.

Mr. Sadr has a fraught relationship with Iran, and if his vows to relinquish politics come into effect, it could pave the way for Iran-backed opponents to form the nucleus of a new government. The Shiite’s ability to mobilize millions of followers across Iraq means he can also create protests that threaten any new government if he wants to.

On Monday, protesters breached the entrance of the Republican Palace, one of Saddam Hussein’s former palaces that served as the seat of the US-led occupation and is now holding rallies. cabinet meeting. Security forces closed roads south of the capital, preventing many protesters from the southern provinces, and video posted on social media showed riot police using water cannons against some. protest.

In recent weeks, Mr. Sadr has mobilized larger rallies of his followers to take to the streets to protest against the corrupt government and foreign intervention in Iraq.

The use of force by security forces against protesters has also increased tensions among these forces, which include supporters of Mr Sadr and members of the Iran-backed Iraqi militia. Some of the Iran-backed militias are affiliated with political parties that are rivals of the Shiite cleric.

Mr. Sadr in his statement said he would also close all facilities associated with terrorists except for the mausoleum of his father, Ayatollah Muhammad Sadiq al-Sadr, who was assassinated while Saddam Hussein was in power. authority, and other offices related to the family’s religion. heritage.

“I have decided not to meddle in political affairs so now I announce my final retirement,” said Mr. Sadr. wrote on Twitter.

Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi said he would suspend cabinet sessions until further notice. In an appeal to Mr Sadr, he said prolonging the political disputes “to the point of damaging all state institutions that do not serve the Iraqi people, their aspirations, their future and their integrity”. their territory”.

Mr. Sadr has said many times before that he will leave politics and even temporarily suspend political activities and close his movement offices, hint question about whether this could be a tactic to finally strengthen his negotiating position in the now-crippled government effort.

“He kept saying he was not going to get into politics and then he would definitely come back,” said Sajad Jiyad, an Iraq-based fellow at the Century Foundation, a US-based think-tank. know. “Maybe this is a way to create breathing space for all parties.”

Mr. Sadr is known to be an Iraqi nationalist. He tried to form a new government with Sunni Arab and Kurdish partners before those months-long negotiations failed.

Elie Abouaoun, a director of the American Institute for Peace, said his resignation and the appearance of his followers on the streets could also be “a means of putting pressure on and getting people to beg him.” relinquish its decision”.

Falih Hassan, Nermeen al-Mufti and Awadh al-Taie contributed reporting.





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