Muqtada al-Sadr, the leader of the Sadrist movement, announced his final retirement from political work on Monday, while Iraq was in the grip of a severe political crisis, and in a scene reminiscent of what happened in Sri Lanka last month, al-Sadr supporters stormed the Republican Palace in Baghdad.
The circulating scenes depicted protestors in the palace’s hallways and swimming pool, which is located in the defended green zone.
It is worth noting that Al-Sadr abruptly declared his permanent resignation from political action earlier on Monday. And, in a message on his Twitter account, he indicated that he had decided to retire and has closed all of his present organisations save the shrines, the museum, and the Heritage Authority.
He also intimated that his life would be in danger as a result of his reform endeavour, urging his fans to pray for him in the event that he dies or is killed.
Thousands of Al-Sadr supporters flocked to the Green Zone after hearing of the prospect of declaring civil disobedience, especially because the flame of protests had spread to the governorates of Basra and Dhi Qar in the country’s south.
Meanwhile, the Sadrist movement’s Executive Committee proclaimed the end of its control over public rallies, opening the Iraqi landscape to all options.
It is worth noting that this retirement comes at a sensitive time, given the ongoing political crisis since the last parliamentary elections on October 10, 2021, which was exacerbated in July 2022 by the intensification of the dispute between the Sadrist movement and the coordination framework comprised of Nuri al-Maliki, the Al-Fateh Alliance, and factions and parties. pro-Iranian.
A month ago, Shiite leaders’ followers camped near the Iraqi parliament in Baghdad, while tyre supporters gathered around the Green Zone’s entrance, hoping to put pressure on the government to meet their requests.
While the Sadrist movement demands that Parliament be dissolved and fresh elections be held, its opponents have been asking for months that a government be formed first, followed by new elections.
The situation in Sri Lanka is duplicated in Iraq. Protesters in the palace swimming pool
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