Iraqi authorities call for de-escalation, dialogue to resolve crisis
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Iraqi presidencies confirm the necessity to de-escalate and adopt dialogue to resolve the severe political crisis in the country.
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Soldiers standby as supporters of Muqtada al-Sadr protest in front of the Supreme Judicial Council, in Baghdad, Iraq, Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2022 (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)
The four Iraqi presidencies (the republic, ministries, parliament, and the judiciary) stressed on Wednesday the need to stop the escalation and adopt dialogue to solve the severe political crisis in the country, stressing that political turmoil affects the security and safety of citizens.
The Media Office of the Presidency of the Republic of Iraq stated in a statement that "The President of the Republic, Dr. Barham Saleh, hosted today, Wednesday, August 24, 2022, a meeting that included Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi, Parliament Speaker Muhammad Al-Halbousi, and the President of the Supreme Judicial Council, Judge Faiq Zaidan, to study the latest developments in the country and their repercussions."
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According to the statement, the meeting stressed that "the continuation of the state of political turmoil negatively affects national efforts aimed at consolidating security and stability and preserving the security and safety of citizens, which calls for an active and serious stance by all parties to prevent escalation and adopt national dialogue as the only way to resolve the crises."
The statement pointed to "the need to take all steps to resume effective dialogue committed to the foundations of the supreme national interest, protection of civil and social peace, reassurance of citizens, and taking the necessary measures to prevent the current crisis from escalating."
The statement noted "the need to protect all state institutions and preserve their prestige and independence in accordance with legal and constitutional contexts," stressing that "peaceful demonstration and expression of opinion is a constitutionally guaranteed right, with the need to adhere to regulations and laws, maintain public security and public property."
It then stressed that "the duty of the security forces in all their formations is to protect stability in the country and preserve public security and public property," adding that "the forces need not be involved in political disputes and that preserving the security and rights of Iraqis is the responsibility of the state and its constitutional institutions."
The meeting attendees pointed out that "the continuation of political crises affects Iraq's role in the international community and may affect the disruption of cooperation, understandings and agreements concluded in various fields."
For its part, the Iraqi Popular Mobilization Authority announced on Tuesday that “they are watching closely and with great attention the developments that are taking place," but they "will not be a party to the current political crisis”.
This came after the country's top judicial council announced that it was suspending its works, the Federal Supreme Court's, and its subsidiary courts'.
Since the early parliamentary elections in October 2021, Iraq has been suffering from a severe political crisis, as consultations between the political parties over naming a prime minister did not lead to a result. Consequently, members of the Sadrist movement within Parliament submitted their resignation after calls by the leader of the movement Muqtada Al-Sadr.
