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Iraq
Sadrist Movement calls for 'million' demonstration in Baghdad
2022-08-14
[Rudaw] The Sadrist Movement on Saturday called for Iraqi protestors to flock from different provinces to the capital of Baghdad in a massive show of protest titled the "million" people demonstration as political unrest between Iraq's rival forces reaches its peak.

"I count on you and I feel courageous not to be let down by you ... through a united (peaceful) (million) demonstration from all Iraq's provinces, regions, villages, and neighborhoods, and even from all its alleys and homes to go to the beloved capital, Baghdad, and to Tahrir Square, and then to your protesting brothers to support reform for the love of Iraq," read a tweet from Salih Mohammed al-Iraqi, a figure close to leader Moqtada Tater al-Sadr
...hereditary Iraqi holy man and leader of a political movement in Iraq. He had his hereditary rival, al-Khoei, assassinated only a few hours after the holy rival's appearance out of exile in 2003. Formerly an Iranian catspaw, lately he's gagged over some of their more outlandish antics, then went back to catspawry...
The political turmoil in Iraq has reached staggering depths, with constant protests held in Baghdad since late July by Sadr supporters and rivals of the pro-Iran
...The nation is noted for spontaneously taking over other countries' embassies, maintaining whorehouses run by clergymen, involvement in international drug trafficking, and financing sock puppet militias to extend the regime's influence...
Coordination Framework.

The two sides maintain polarizing views regarding Iraq's future, with the former supporting the dissolution of parliament and holding snap elections while the latter refusing the dissolution of the legislature without a return to parliament sessions, which are currently obstructed due to Sadrist sit-ins in the capital's Green Zone in the vicinity of the parliament.

The Sadrist figure urged for a "million march carrying the flags of Iraq and the banners of reform and liberation ... that shake the thrones of the miserable" in Baghdad to send a message that "Iraq is with reform and there is no place for corruption and the corrupt," while warning that Iraq is on the cusp of "another dictator."

Meanwhile,
...back at the saw mill, Scarface Al had tied Little Nell to the log and was about to turn on the buzz saw...
a representative of Sadr said on Saturday said that demonstrations will continue until reform is achieved and corruption is ousted from Iraq.

"We will continue until the demands are achieved and the faces of the corrupt are removed," Hazem al-Araji, the representative of the Sadrist Movement leader told Rudaw on Saturday night.

Supporters of Sadr have held a sit-in in the heavily fortified Green Zone since late July demanding the dissolution of parliament, constitutional reform, and early elections. Their demands are opposed by Coordination Framework loyalists, who have staged counter-protests in Baghdad against the demands of the Sadrist Movement.

The Sadrist figure's statement further warned that Iraq has become an "easy prey to corruption, injustice, militias, dependency, and the whims of corrupt parties," and called on all of Iraq's components to rise against such injustice.

Large rallies were held by supporters of Sadr and rivals Coordination Framework on Friday, and Sadrist protestors reiterated their demands of holding snap elections and the dissolution of the parliament. The Coordination Framework's supporters rejected their rivals' demands and instead called for reform.

On Wednesday, Sadr called on Iraq's Supreme Judicial Council to dissolve the parliament by the "end of next week" and task the president with setting early elections, saying that the judiciary retains the authority to dissolve the parliament without the need of a parliamentary session to be held.

Sadr's statement contradicts that of major rival and former prime minister Nouri al-Maliki, who said on Monday that there will be no dissolution of parliament or early elections should the parliament not return to holding sessions and call to do so itself.

Iraq held early elections in October 2021, but has failed to form a government and has been grasped with a suffocating political deadlock, with the country currently experiencing a record nearly ten months without a permanent cabinet.
Posted by:trailing wife

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