After Moqtada al-Sadr, the leader of the al-Sadr movement, announced his final retirement from politics in the face of a severe political crisis in Iraq, his supporters marched into the fortified Green Zone in the capital, Baghdad, and stormed the presidential palace. . and entered some of its areas, which caused the security forces to fire tear gas to disperse them.
The angry supporters of the Sadr movement tried to move towards the parliament headquarters, but the security forces closed the gates of the green zone to prevent more protesters from entering.
The security forces also announced a total curfew in Baghdad, but this did not stop the flow of Sadr’s supporters. A number of protesters who had gathered inside the Green Zone confirmed that intensifying measures would be implemented in the coming hours.
These sources also reported: “Protesters were injured due to shooting and real bullets in the air by Hashd al-Shaabi members.”
In Sadr city, mosques announced public mobilization in solidarity with Leader Sadr, while other areas are expected to witness numerous demonstrations in the coming hours, especially in southern provinces such as Wasit, Maysan, Dhi. Qar, Basra and others, where it enjoys widespread support.
Noting that the protesters came out in Basra and blocked some roads with burnt tires.
Sadr’s supporters also entered the Dhi Qar governorate building and took control of it. They also took control of the court building in Maysan.
Some observers believed that the country would witness some form of civil disobedience.
These developments occurred after Sadr announced in a tweet on Monday that he decided to retire permanently and closed all the institutions of his movement except the shrine, museum and cultural heritage organization.
He also mentioned that his life might be threatened because of his reform project and asked his fans to pray for him if he dies or is killed.
Meanwhile, the executive committee of the Sadr movement announced the end of its control over the street demonstrations, opening the Iraqi scene to all possibilities.
Sadr’s office also prevented the raising of flags, slogans and political slogans or speeches in the name of the movement in the media and communication platforms of his supporters and closed all accounts.
It is worth noting that this stage of retirement takes place at a critical time in the country, especially since the ongoing political crisis after the last election of the Islamic Council which was held on October 10, 2010, intensified with the intensification of the differences between the two countries. The Sadr movement and the framework that includes Nouri Maliki and Fatah coalition, factions and parties loyal to Iran.
Source: Lebanon Debate
