Iraq – Sadarists expand protests to Iraq’s courts

Location: Baghdad – Iraq

Language: Arabic

Duration: 00:05:03

Sound: natural

Source: A24 in Baghdad

Restrictions: A24 subscribers

Date: 23/08/ 2022

Storyline:

The Iraqi Supreme Judicial Council suspended its work hours after Sadrist movement supporters expanded to the Judicial Council building the sit-in they started two weeks ago in front of the parliament building in Green Zone in Baghdad.

Most courts in Iraq announced a suspension of their work in response to the council’s call. The Iraqi Bar Association also announced a  work suspension in compliance with orders from the Supreme Judicial Council.

As they set up tents outside the national judicial authority headquarters in Baghdad, Al-Sadr supporters accused the head of the Judicial Council, Fain Zaidan, of politicizing the judiciary.

The Sadrist protesters demanded Zaidan’s resignation and trial.

“We want to hold the leaders and those who sold our sons accountable. We demand the corrupt be held accountable,” protester Ameer Adai Al-Ghazi told A24 News.

Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi cut short his visit to Cairo and returned to Baghdad to follow the developments. Upon his arrival, he stated the judicial institutions’ disruption puts Iraq at genuine risk.

He called on political forces to continue the national dialogue.

Echoing the acting prime minister, Muhammad al-Halbousi, speaker of the Iraqi parliament, called on citizens to follow the constitution, warning that the crisis would exacerbate tensions if political forces kept up disrupting legal procedures.

But the expansion of the sit-in is a step towards escalating the political crisis that has been going on for over ten months.

Sadrist movement supporters say they will continue their sit-in outside the parliament building until their demands to dissolve parliament and depoliticize the judiciary are met.

However, the expansion of the sit-in is a step towards escalating the political crisis that has been going on for over ten months. Sadrist movement supporters indicated, in a statement, that they would continue their sit-in outside the parliament building until their demands were met, including dissolving parliament and not politicizing the judiciary.

Meanwhile, the pro-Iran Coordination Framework said all forms of dialogue with the Sadrist movement should be suspended and called on supporters to prepare for more confrontation.

Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Iraq, confirmed support for the right to peaceful demonstration and advocated a search for solutions to the country’s political crisis .

Shotlist:

– Soundbite (Sheikh Mustafa al-Bahadli – Protester):

“This is our revolution against the corrupt. Judiciary that does not hold those who commit acts against Iraq and its people accountable should be removed immediately. We as tribal leaders support Muqtada al-Sadr.”

– Soundbite (Ameer Adai Al-Ghazi – Protester):

“I am from the district of Dhi Qar, the castle of Sukar, and my son is missing. We want to hold the leaders and those who sold our sons accountable. We demand the corrupt be held accountable, as the Federal Court continues to stand by them. Tishreen revolutionaries were killed and no one held the

killers accountable. Nuri al-Maliki sold Iraq, causing its destruction and bankruptcy. How can the judiciary remain silent after all that went down?

– Soundbite (Poet Shallal Al-Gharabawi – Protester):

He described with much pessimism the fate of Iraqis. He said in order to survive, Iraqi people have to pick a side, either stand with Iran or the US.

– Soundbite (Abu Ali Al-Gharawi – Protester):

“Our protest today is from a public standpoint that aims to achieve specific demands. The case is with the Federal Supreme Court, which deals with constitutional laws and law enforcement. The court has not issued any decision that serves the public, as services, projects and the country remain in a state of suspension.”

– Soundbite (Adiba Kazem Ghulam – Protester):

“We are suffering from lack of water and electricity. We have no industry or agriculture. People have taken to the streets to express their feeling of injustice and dissatisfaction over living conditions. Parliament has not supported us in any way, no one in Parliament cares about poverty or the poor.”

– Soundbite (Child Abbas Hussein – Protester)

“They used tear gas on us while we were demonstrating. They stole from the people and we want a solution for the issues in the country. I came here to study and work to support my family.”