Iraq: Sadr's Followers Begin Sit-In in Parliament

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Facts

  • Supporters of Iraqi cleric and politician Moqtada al-Sadr erected tents and prepared for an open-ended sit-in at Iraq's parliament on Sun., a move that could prolong a political deadlock already plaguing the nation.1
  • Wed. had seen protestors use ropes and chains to topple concrete walls around the heavily fortified Green Zone in Baghdad, then flood into parliament after confronting security forces.2
  • Following Wednesday's breach, Iraq's PM, Mustafa al-Kadhimi, called on protesters to leave the building while the crowd waved flags, took photos, and chanted. The demonstration finally ended after Sadr called on his supporters to leave.3
  • In last year's elections, Sadr's party won 73 out of the 329 parliamentary seats, but the lawmakers quit en masse in June in a development motivated by Sadr's push to establish a government. The move sparked further political division, though 64 party members were later sworn in, making it the largest bloc in Iraq's government.4
  • Mohammed Shiya al-Sudani was formally nominated as PM by the Coordination Framework on Mon., the largest Shi'a alliance in the Iraqi parliament that rivals Sadr's block.3
  • Iraqi politics has been in a state of turmoil since last October. Sadr's popularity has been growing for years due to his political opposition to the US and to Iran-backed groups, but his electoral success has significantly upset the balance of power in a country traditionally dominated by Iran-aligned Shiite blocs.5

Sources: 1Reuters, 2Associated Press, 3Guardian, 4France24 and 5CNN.

Narratives

  • Narrative A, as provided by Brookings. Despite Sadr's position against the West, he may be an unlikely asset to US interests, primarily due to his opposition to Iran. The future of the Sadrist movement depends on preventing Iran-aligned militias from expanding their influence within the state, and the West should make sure it at least tacitly accepts Sadr. As the expression goes, the enemy of my enemy is my friend.
  • Narrative B, as provided by PressTV. Sadr, who is known for stirring the pot in Iraqi politics, is pushing the country to the edge. Though popular with many in the Shi'a community, his unruly supporters coupled with his fierce rhetoric could plunge Iraq into civil strife.
  • Cynical narrative, as provided by Atlantic Council. Sadr has already lost to Iran, and antics like this aren't going to change that. The firebrand cleric did quite well in last year's elections, but his inability to form a government has led to a significant loss of ground to Iranian-backed groups.