Iraq: Al-Sadr says he’s quitting politics in bombshell announcement

The leader of the Iraqi Sadrist movement, Muqtada Al-Sadr, announced on Monday the resignation of political affairs and the closure of all the movement’s institutions, with the exception of the holy shrine and museum, and the Al-Sadr Heritage Organization.

In a statement on his Twitter account, Muqtada Al-Sadr said: “I had decided not to interfere in political affairs, but now I announce my final retirement.”

Al-Sadr said all Sadrist movement institutions were closed, with the exception of the holy shrine, the museum and the Sadr Heritage Authority.

Al-Sadr’s office said in a statement: “It is strictly forbidden to interfere in political affairs, raise slogans and speak on behalf of the Sadrist movement,” the Sadrist movement’s protest organizing committee said.

Al-Sadr’s announcement coincided with the Federal Court’s decision to consider a lawsuit to dissolve parliament on Tuesday, without pleading.

A meeting of the four Iraqi presidencies on Monday affirmed the preservation of security, stability and the democratic and constitutional process.

The meeting also renewed support for Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi’s call for a new round of national dialog this week.

Al-Sadr Proposal

Al-Sadr proposed on Saturday that “all parties” present in the political arena since the fall of Saddam Hussein, including his party, give up the government positions they hold to allow the political crisis in Iraq to be resolved.

“There is more important than dissolving parliament and holding early elections,” al-Sadr tweeted. “The most important thing is not to involve all parties and personalities that have participated in the political process since the American occupation in 2003, including the Sadrist movement.”

He continued: “I am ready within 72 hours to sign an agreement that includes this,” he said, noting that “if this is not achieved, there is no room for reform.” Al-Sadr did not reveal the names of the individuals he intends to appoint to lead the next government.

Al-Sadr Positions

– Al-Sadr’s most prominent slogan since the beginning of the crisis is the fight against corruption. His party does not participate in the current government but has influence in some ministries over the past years.

– His supporters have been staging a sit-in in and around the House of Representatives for almost a month and have briefly besieged the Supreme Judicial Council.

– This month, al-Kadhimi launched a “National Dialog” to try to bring Iraq out of the impasse, but representatives of the Sadrist movement and their leader boycotted this initiative, saying it only “resulted in some points that do not fatten or enrich Iraq from hunger.”