Muqtada Al-Sadr postpones demonstrations until further notice
The leader of the Sadrist movement in Iraq announces the postponement of the demonstration that was scheduled for next Saturday, citing preserving peace.
The leader of the Sadrist movement, Muqtada Al-Sadr, announced, on Tuesday, postponing the upcoming demonstrations that were scheduled for Saturday, until further notice.
Al-Sadr said in a press statement on Twitter: "We will pursue reform and continue to revolt against your corruption." Al-Sadr further added that the counter-protests set by the Coordination Framework are "evidence of bankruptcy."
Al-Sadr went on to say, "If you are betting on civil war, then I am betting on preserving civil peace, because that Iraqi blood is precious, more precious than anything else. But for the love of Iraq, and out of love for its people and its sanctities, I announce the postponement of the Saturday demonstration, until further notice, in order to fail your malicious schemes. I refuse to feed into your corruption or spill the blood of Iraqis, many of whom have already fallen victim to your corruption.”
Iraq's Supreme Judiciary: No jurisdiction to dissolve Parliament
Iraq's Supreme Judicial Council confirmed on Sunday that it has no jurisdiction to dissolve the country's Parliament.
In a statement, and in response to a request by Sadrist leader Muqtada Al-Sadr last week, the Supreme Council called not to involve the Council's name in political rivalry.
The statement added that the Council discussed Al-Sadr's request and that it "has no jurisdiction to dissolve the Parliament."
The Council also stressed that "the judiciary stands at the same distance from everyone because it is based on the constitution and the law."
Last Wednesday, Al-Sadr demanded that "the Iraqi judiciary dissolve parliament within a period not exceeding the end of next week," and that "the president of the republic set a date for early parliamentary elections," in light of the political impasse in the country.
Coordination Framework announced the open sit-in
Demonstrations called for by the Iraqi Coordination Framework "in support of legitimacy and constitution" started in front of Al-Mu'allaq Bridge in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad.
The Coordination Framework in Iraq stressed the importance of expediting the process of naming a presidential candidate and the formation of a service government that addresses the crises in the country.
Early this month, supporters of the Coordination Framework in Iraq flocked to the entrance of the Green Zone to participate in a demonstration raising the slogan "supporting legitimacy and preserving the constitution," in response to a call by the Framework to the Iraqi people to demonstrate peacefully "to defend their state."
This came after the leader of the Sadrist movement, Muqtada Al-Sadr, called on his supporters to demonstrate, saying in a statement: "Oh, the Iraqi people, you are all at stake." He added, "Rise to demand reform in your country... I call on everyone to support the revolutionaries for reform, including our tribes, our security forces, and members of the popular mobilization."