The League of the Righteous, which has representation in parliament and its own armed group within the Popular Mobilization Units that are fighting the Islamic State (IS), demanded on Jan. 2 that the Iraqi government review the decision to normalize relations with Saudi Arabia.
The head of the Badr parliamentary bloc, Qasim al-Araji, said he considered the killing of Nimr a serious crime, and demanded that diplomatic ties with Riyadh be cut immediately.
These sentiments echoed loudly through Shiite cities in central and southern Iraq, where demonstrations were held to demand that diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia be severed. The slogans raised focus on different issues linked to Saudi behavior in recent years, including the repression of the Shiite opposition in Bahrain, the offensive on Yemen and support for jihadist groups opposing the Syrian government. Among other demands, the demonstrators called for a boycott of Saudi products.
In Baghdad, security forces blocked protesters’ attempt to enter the Green Zone and break into the Saudi Embassy.
In light of this commotion on the streets, the Iraqi government has distanced itself from the strained Saudi-Iranian ties following the execution of Nimr and other developments, such as the storming of the Saudi Embassy in Tehran on Jan. 2 and the rupture of ties between the two countries. The government also turned a deaf ear to Iraqi Shiite forces close to Iran that demanded that ties be cut with Saudi Arabia.
On Jan. 6, Iraqi Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari offered to mediate between Iran and Saudi Arabia. Neither party has, however, responded to his offer. Middle East Online reported, “Iraqi Foreign Ministry spokesman Ahmad Jamal said Jan. 5 that in a phone conversation with Saudi Foreign Minister Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir, ‘Jaafari confirmed that the Saudi mission is safe and the Iraqi government is committed to its protection.’”
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