By Dr Renad Mansour, for the Royal Institute for International Affairs (Chatham House). Any opinions expressed are those of the author(s), and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. After Latest Turn, is Muqtada al-Sadr Losing Influence in Iraq? The populist cleric has repositioned himself in Iraqi politics multiple times, but his recent […]
Tag Archives | Moqtada al-Sadr
Tags: blue hats, Chatham House, featured, Iran, mn, Moqtada al-Sadr, Muqtada al-Sadr, Protests, Qasem Soleimani, Renad Mansour
Protests Swell despite Clash with Sadrist Supporters
By Gilgamesh Nabeel for Al Monitor. Any opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. After withdrawing his support for the protests, controversial populist Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr ordered his followers back to Tahrir Square Feb. 1, where his supporters clashed with demonstrators and […]
Video: Baghdad Curfew Lifted
From AFP. Any opinions expressed are those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Baghdad curfew lifted but Iraq on alert for new protests A curfew is lifted in Baghdad following days of protests which have left nearly 100 dead, but tensions remain after firebrand cleric Moqtada Sadr […]
Supreme Court Ratifies Election Results
By John Lee. Iraq's Supreme Court (pictured) has ratified the results of the parliamentary election, which was held in May. According to The National, this gives the winning political parties three months to form a new government. Muqtada al-Sadr has retained his lead. A coalition government needs at least 165 from a total of 329. […]
Election Recount: Sadr Retains Victory
By John Lee. Moqtada al-Sadr has reportedly retained his lead in Iraq’s parliamentary election following a full recount. According to Xinhua, the results showed no change in 13 of Iraq's 18 provinces, and changes in four provinces involving five seat-winners within their own coalitions. The recount did not alter the initial results significantly, with Sadr […]
Video: Coalition talks "still under way"
From Al Jazeera. Any opinions expressed are those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Negotiations are still under way to form a governing coalition in Iraq. No party won a majority during May's national election, and the result is not yet confirmed, because a manual recount was […]
Iraq may soon be Without a Government
By Ali Mamouri for Al-Monitor. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Iraq may soon be Without a Government, as Clock Runs Out The term of Iraq's current parliament ends June 30, but a mandated manual recount of votes cast in the May 12 election hasn't even begun, and […]
Will Abadi have a Role in Forming New Govt?
By Omar Sattar for Al Monitor. Any opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. On June 21, Iraq's Supreme Federal Court ruled that parliament's decision to cancel the votes of Iraqis living abroad, displaced people and members of the peshmerga forces was unconstitutional. The […]
Sadr welcomes Return of Iraqi Jews
By Saad Salloum for Al Monitor. Any opinions here are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. In a bold move, Iraq’s Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr spoke in favor of the return of the Jews who were evicted from the country half a century ago. Sadr responded […]
Sadr, Amiri announce Political Alliance
By John Lee. Nationalist cleric Moqtada al-Sadr and Hadi al-Amiri have reportedly announced an alliance between their political blocs. The groups who won first and second places respectively in last month's parliamentary election. While Sadr's Sairoon Alliance is opposed to Iranian involvement in Iraq, Amiri's Fatah (Conquest) Coalition is head of an Iranian-backed militia. At […]
Sadr's Bloc Wins Iraq Election
By John Lee. The alliance headed by former Shia militia chief Moqtada al-Sadr has won the parliamentary election. But according to BBC News, Sadr cannot become prime minister as he did not stand as a candidate. He is, however, expected to play a key role in forming the new government. Sadr is strongly opposed to […]
Iraq Election: Abadi Trails Rivals
By John Lee. According to media reports, the Nasr (Victory) Alliance led by Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi is trailing in third place in the Iraqi general elections. With more than half of votes counted, Saeroun (Marching Towards Reform) list, comprising Shia Muslim cleric Moqtada Sadr's Istiqama (Integrity) party and six mostly secular groups, is in the […]