Mati Barnhart, knitted news30.08.22 15:17 Tuesday in Alul Tashfav
(Photo: Shutterstock)
Shia leader Moqtada al-Sadr is calling on his supporters to stop their violent protests in central Baghdad after dozens of people were killed and hundreds injured in the fierce clashes between Shia groups in the country.
“This is not a revolution because it has lost its non-violent character,” said A-Seder. “Iraqi bloodshed is forbidden”.
In an hour-long speech broadcast this morning, the Iraqi politician told his supporters to leave their protests in the Green Zone in central Baghdad, where they have taken over parliament for weeks.
“Within 60 minutes, if the Sederist movement does not withdraw, including those sitting in the parliament, then even I will leave the movement,” said al-Seder.
His speech comes a day after the worst violence the Iraqi capital has seen in years, following 10 months of deadlock after parliamentary elections in October, which prompted Iran to close its border and ban flights to Iraq.
The country has been in controversy since the elections, in which al-Sadr received the most votes, but failed to form a government because he refused to include his Shiite rivals. This led Iraq to a situation where the political system is unstable and is now controlled by a transitional government that cannot approve a budget or legislation.
Al-Sadr is the leader of a Shiite bloc that opposes Iran’s complete control of Iraqi politics. Last June, Seder announced the resignation of 73 members of parliament who were loyal to him, but these were immediately replaced, which eliminated the power he had in parliament for the first time in two decades.
Since July, hundreds of his supporters have been demonstrating outside parliament in order to prevent the promotion of other politicians. But the clashes on Monday indicate the worsening of the crisis.
Al-Sadr’s ultimate goal is to become the strongest man in Iraq, which indicates the possibility of an all-out war between him and the other Shia blocs in the country.
Did you find an error in the article? Does the content in the article violate copyrights that you own? Have you come across an inappropriate ad? Report to us