Sunday, August 28, 2022

Moqtada and his tantrums

If cult leader Moqtada al-Sadr could find a bra for his pendulous breasts, would he be in a better mood?  Every day his mistakes himself or having more power than he does and he issues another ultimatum.  RUDAW notes:


Iraq’s Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr on Saturday gave a three day ultimatum to Iraqi political parties, saying he would sign an agreement only with people that have not been a part of the government since 2003.

“There is something more important than dissolving the parliament and holding early elections, and the most important thing is: the non-participation of all parties and personalities that have participated in the political process since the American occupation in 2003 until today,” read a statement from Salih Mohammed al-Iraqi, a figure close to Sadr, adding that such principle also applies for the Sadrists.

The statement set a deadline of 72 hours, during which Sadr would sign an agreement with parties that are interested in his initiative.


That was Saturday's demand.  Today's demand:


A spokesman for the Sadrist movement called on Sunday for the establishment of a new Iraq, devoid of militias, illegal possession of weapons, violence, fighting, sectarianism and warring parties.


“No to sectarian quotas,” said Saleh Mohammed al-Iraqi, a close associate to Sadrist leader Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr.


He urged the establishment of a state of law “where brotherhood prevails, minorities are dignified, the judiciary is honest, balanced ties are forged with the outside, peace can reign, the army can protect, the government can serve, and religions and creeds are respected.” 


Even if you disregard everything but the results of the October 2021 elections, Moqtada does not represent much.  He represents a cult.  His cult didn't even get the most votes.  The political party that got the most votes in the October election was the KDP.


Yet he issues non-stop demands over and over.  Suadad al-Salhy (MIDDLE EAST EYE) reports:

Muqtada al-Sadr no longer has many options. Armed clashes, feared but not yet witnessed, are now imminent, Iraqi armed factions leaders and politicians told Middle East Eye.

It seems the latest escalation by the influential Shia cleric's supporters - marching on the headquarters of the judiciary - has caused considerable anger in Iraq and internationally.

[. . .]

As the Iraqi public nervously watched the Sadrists withdrawing on TV and social media, the commanders of the Popular Mobilisation Authority (PMA), a governmental paramilitary umbrella group that includes Sadr's Iran-backed rivals, met in Baghdad.

They convened to discuss developments in the situation and proposed steps to stop Sadr's "transgression of the sanctity of state institutions", a commander who took part in the meeting told MEE.


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