Tensions rise in Iraq… Muqtada es-Sadr gave an hour: End the protests!
Muqtada es-Sadr, the leader of the Sadr Movement in Iraq, announced that he had completely withdrawn from politics with a statement on social media. Supporters of Muqtada al-Sadr took to the streets after the statement and entered the Presidential Palace in Baghdad. While a curfew was declared in the capital, where tensions escalated, Al Jazeera announced that the number of those who lost their lives increased to 30. Muqtada al-Sadr has just called on his supporters and asked them to stop their protest within an hour. Following this call, the Iraqi army announced that it had lifted the curfew.
Muqtada Sadr, the leader of the Sadr Group in Iraq, announced that he was withdrawing from politics with a post on his social media account.
Stating that he has decided to close the Tomb of Sadr Group and all institutions except the museum, Sadr said, “I declare that all institutions except the Holy Tomb, the museum and the legacy of the honorable Sadr family have been closed. If I die or get killed, I wish you Fatiha and prayers. “
Shortly after this decision , the supporters of Muqtada Es-Sadr poured into the streets of Baghdad and entered the Presidential Palace in the capital. In the images shared on social media, Sadr supporters who raided the Presidential Palace were seen entering the pool in the garden of the palace.
Iraqi Joint Operations Command announced that a curfew was declared in the capital, Baghdad, where tensions escalated.
BORDER MOVE FROM IRAN
The suspension of flights to the country due to the violence in Baghdad prompted Iran to act. Iran has closed its land borders with Iraq.
Iranian state television cited the ‘unrest’ and ‘curfew’ in Iraqi cities as the reason for the closure of the borders. The Iranian state has urged Iranians not to go to Iraq and urged Iran’s Shiite pilgrims in Iraq to avoid further travel between cities.
GAVE 1 HOUR: END THE PROTESTS
Muqtada es-Sadr has just made a statement calling for his supporters to end their protests within an hour.
According to the information reported by AFP, the protesters started to withdraw from the Green Zone after Sadr’s call.
CURRENT BAN HAS BEEN RELEASED
Following this development, the Iraqi army announced that the curfew was lifted.
The demonstrators turned the streets into places of fire with the tires they burned.
CALL FOR CONDITION FROM THE PRESIDENT SALİH
In A Written Statement, Iraqi President Barham Salih, calling for restraint from all parties, stated that peaceful protest is a legitimate right, but disrupting state institutions is a dangerous development and demanded that Sadr Group supporters withdraw from state institutions.
MUKTADA SADR STARTS HUNGER STRIKE In
Iraq, the loss of life increased to 10 in the violent incidents that broke out after the decision of Sadr Group leader Muqtada Sadr to quit politics. In a statement on his social media account, Hassan al-Adari, one of the Sadr Group executives, announced that Sadr Group leader Muqtada Sadr started a hunger strike to protest the violence that took place between the security forces and his supporters in the Green Zone in the capital Baghdad today. Al-Adari stated that Sadr will continue his hunger strike until the violence and gunfire are over. After Sadr announced his retirement from politics, his supporters entered the Green Zone and stormed the Presidential Palace.
4 KATYUSA ROCKETS FALL IN THE GREEN ZONE
In the violent clashes between the military wing of the Sadr Group, Seraya es-Salam and the security forces, mortars and rocket launchers were used as well as light weapons.
While street fighting continued in the sheltered Green Zone, where foreign missions and government mansions are located, 4 Katyusha rockets fell around the US Embassy building in Baghdad in the Green Zone.
30 PEOPLE DEAD, 700 INJURED
While armed clashes continue in and around the Green Zone in the capital Baghdad, it is among the information that many mortar shells fell on this region. In the news in the Iraqi press, it was stated that the armed clashes took place between the military wing of the Sadr Group, Seraya es-Salam and the security forces.
Al Jazeera announced that the death toll in the ongoing violence has risen to 30. The number of injured is stated to be 700.
WORK OF THE COUNCIL OF MINISTRY IS SUSPENSABLE
After Sadr supporters stormed the Presidential Palace in the sheltered Green Zone, Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kazemi announced that the work of the Council of Ministers was suspended until further notice.
RED ALARM
Baghdad Operations Command stated that all security units were on red alert and called the security forces on leave to duty immediately. On the other hand, Sadr supporters blocked the roads with tires in the cities of Meysan and Zikar during the protests that spread to the south of the country. Official institutions in Meysan and Zikar were closed due to Sadr supporters who raided state buildings.
UN CALL FOR CAUTION
UNAMI, the United Nations Mission in Iraq, called on Sadr supporters to leave the Green Zone and evacuate government buildings. “We call on all protesters to leave the Green Zone and evacuate government institutions so that the government can fulfill its responsibilities to serve Iraq,” the statement said. UNAMI also urged political parties to de-escalate and engage in dialogue.
72 HOUR ULTIMATOM
Salih Muhammed al-Iraki, known for his closeness to Sadr Group leader Muqtada Sadr and using the title of Sadr’s Minister, said in a statement on his social media account that the solution, which is more important than the dissolution of the parliament and holding early elections, is the solution that came to power after the US invasion, especially the Sadr Group. He said that it was an election that would not involve all political parties and personalities participating in the government. In his statement, al-Iraqi stated that Sadr was ready to sign the agreement within 72 hours if it was accepted.
FLIGHTS STOPPED
Said Chelenderi, Director of Public Relations at Tehran International Imam Khomeini Airport, announced that all flights to the capital Baghdad have been suspended until further notice. In a statement made by the Iranian Embassy in Baghdad, it was warned that Iranian citizens should avoid traveling to the cities of Karbala, Najaf and Kazemin due to the curfew imposed by the Iraqi government.
TRAVEL ALERTS FROM FOREIGN
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a travel warning to Iraq for Turkish citizens and a statement regarding the events. In the statement of the Ministry, “The stability and security of friendly and brotherly Iraq is of vital importance for Turkey. In this respect, we are concerned about the violence spreading across the country. In this context, we invite all segments to exercise restraint and common sense. We hope that the current political conflicts will be resolved peacefully and through inclusive dialogue, and the peace and well-being of the Iraqi people will be ensured.
TRAVEL ALERTS FROM FOREIGN
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a travel warning to Iraq for Turkish citizens and a statement regarding the events. In the statement of the Ministry, “The stability and security of friendly and brotherly Iraq is of vital importance for Turkey. In this respect, we are concerned about the violence spreading across the country. In this context, we invite all segments to exercise restraint and common sense. We hope that the current political conflicts will be resolved peacefully and through inclusive dialogue, and the peace and well-being of the Iraqi people will be ensured.
On the other hand, Iraqi Parliament Speaker Mohammed Halbusi called on political parties to sit at the dialogue table in order to overcome the political crisis in the country.
Sadr supporters objected to the Iran-backed Coordination Group, which includes former Prime Minister Nuri Maliki, to nominate Mohammed Shia al-Sudani as prime minister. Hundreds of Sadr Group supporters first entered the Green Zone on 27 July and stormed the parliament building.
Then Sadr supporters gathered again and occupied the parliament building on 30 July. On 10 August, Muqtada Sadr asked the Supreme Judicial Council to dissolve the parliament within a week.