Iraq's judiciary denies it has authority to dissolve parliament

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraq's judiciary on Sunday said it lacks the authority to dissolve the parliament and called on Iraq's rival parties to refrain from including it in their rivalries and disputes after top Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr called on it to dissolve parliament.

"The Supreme Judicial Council does not have the authority to dissolve the House of Representatives, because the tasks of the judicial council ... in its entirety relate to the administration of the judiciary only" and it cannot "interfere in the work of the legislative or executive authorities," read a statement from the judiciary.  

The latest statement from the judiciary may spark a reaction from swarms of Sadrist protestors, whose leader on Wednesday called on the judiciary to dissolve the parliament by the "end of next week" and task the president with setting early elections, saying the judiciary retains the authority to do so without the need of a parliamentary session to be held.

The judiciary further urged "all political and media parties not to involve the judiciary in political rivalries and competitions," stressing that "the judiciary stands at the same distance from everyone because the basis on which it rests is the application of the constitution and the law."

However, the council did agree with Sadr's remarks regarding the political unrest in Iraq, saying the constitution has been repeatedly violated due to the incomplete government formation and labeled the entire situation in the conflict-ridden country as "unacceptable," adding that it must be addressed.

The political turmoil in Iraq has reached staggering depths, with constant protests held in Baghdad since late July by Sadr supporters and rival Coordination Framework, a pro-Iran Shiite faction that achieved parliamentary supremacy after the top cleric's bloc resigned.

Massive demonstrations are expected in Baghdad after the Sadrist Movement called on protestors to flock from different provinces to the capital in a massive show of protest titled the "million" people demonstration. While the movement did not specify the date, it is expected to take place after the Friday prayer.

Supporters of Sadr have held a sit-in in the heavily fortified Green Zone since late July demanding the dissolution of parliament, constitutional reform, and early elections. Their demands are opposed by Coordination Framework loyalists, who have staged counter-protests in Baghdad against the demands of the Sadrist Movement.

Iraq held early elections in October 2021 following massive protests two years prior against rampant corruption and unemployment that prompted the resignation of former prime minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi. However, the country has failed to form a government a record ten months after and is grasped with a suffocating political deadlock.