Iraq’s Pro-Iran Politicians Seek to Persecute Speaker of Parliament Mohammed al-Halbousi
Iraq’s speaker of parliament, Mohammed al-Halbousi, is being targeted by pro-Iranian parties in the country. This is part of a larger pattern of Iranian-backed groups attempting to remove Sunni politicians who rise to prominent positions in Iraqi politics. A similar incident occurred in 2012 when Tariq al-Hashimi, a Sunni politician, was targeted by Shi’ite ruling parties.
The current controversy surrounding Halbousi, who has held the position of speaker of parliament since 2018, has led to significant turmoil in Iraq. Several government ministers have resigned in protest, and Iraq’s top court has ousted him as speaker, a move that Halbousi has called unconstitutional.
According to Ali al-Zubaidi, a member of the Fatah Alliance, the recent decision by the Iraqi Federal Supreme Court will prohibit Halbousi from traveling and subject him to a forced stay order.
Iraq’s pro-Iranian politicians often spread conspiracies about Israel, and Halbousi has been accused of “normalization with Israel” without any evidence. This has led to additional charges being brought against him.
It remains uncertain what the future holds for Halbousi, but it is clear that Sunni parliamentarians and groups will not be pleased with the persecution of one of their leaders. However, with many Sunni groups appearing weaker in the aftermath of the war on ISIS, Iraq currently remains largely under the influence of Iran and its militias.
