Iraq facing one of its worst political crises since 2003: Al-Kadhimi

• 

Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi said that his country is going through a "political crisis that may be the most difficult after 2003," according to the Iraqi News Agency.

"Iraqis and their honorable guests commemorated the fortieth anniversary of Imam Hussein, his family, and his companions, and the Iraqis conveyed a message about the meanings of patience, redemption, and sacrifice in their most wonderful forms, and they gave the world lessons in hospitality and courage," Al-Kadhimi said in a statement on Saturday.

Al-Kadhimi also thanked Iraq's security forces who are "still deployed throughout Iraq to pursue terrorists, and while providing at the same time protection for visitors."

He went on to say that Iraq has received millions of visitors in these exceptional circumstances, but "we were able to responsibly offer the best that can be. We do not hide from our patient and capable people that Iraq is going through a political crisis that may be one of the most difficult crises after 2003, but we have hope and determination to find solutions to overcome this crisis, in order to cross and move towards a secure and stable Iraq.

Al-Kadhimi called on all political forces in Iraq to "be inspired by the occasion of the Arbaeen of Imam Hussein."

Millions of Muslims around the world have commemorated the Arbaeen, the event commemorating the 40th day after the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hussein, the grandson of Prophet Mohammad, in Karbala. Iraqis and visitors from various Arab and non-Arab nationalities revive the narrative in the city where he was martyred around 1,400 years ago.

Over the past two weeks, to ensure the safety of visitors, Iraqi authorities deployed tens of thousands of army, police, and security forces, in addition to army helicopters, under the supervision of ministers of interior, defense, and national security, and other leaders in the military. 

Iraq has been suffering from a political crisis that has recently escalated with the resignation of the Sadrist bloc's deputies from Parliament. Later, the Iraqi government announced the start of the national dialogue between the political forces to resolve the crisis.

The first national meeting was held at the Government Palace in Baghdad, on August 17, in the presence of the three presidencies and leaders of political forces with the exception of the Sadrist movement.

It is worth noting that calm returned to Iraq after the Sadrist movement's supporters withdrew from the Green Zone and the Coordination Framework ended the sit-in of its supporters in the capital, Baghdad.