Iraq
Young Iraqis carry the coffin of an anti-government demonstrator killed during protests a day earlier, during a funeral procession in the central holy shrine city of Najaf, November 29, 2019. Photo: Haidar Hamdani / AFP
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Iraq’s Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi published a statement on Friday afternoon announcing he will soon submit his resignation to the Iraqi parliament.
The announcement follows weeks of nationwide protests which have left at least 320 people dead and 15,000 injured. At least 40 people were killed overnight.
Protesters across Iraq rejoiced in the streets after hearing Abdul-Mahdi's resignation plan.
“As a response to the call [of Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani], to facilitate and speed up its implementation as soon as possible, I will submit a formal letter for a resignation request to the current Prime Minister to the honorable parliament for the parliament to review its options,” Abdul-Mahdi said.
Sistani, Iraq’s top Shiite cleric, earlier called on the parliament to withdraw its support for the government. His words carry significant weight among Iraqi Shiites and the political establishment.
“Considering the difficult circumstances that the country is faring through, and due to what appears to be a clear inability in relevant authorities dealing with the developments of the past two months in a manner that preserves rights and stops bloodshed, then the Parliament, from which the current government has sprung, is invited to review its options in this regard and behave in a manner as Iraq’s interests demand and saving the blood of its children,” Sistani said in a Friday sermon delivered by his representative Ahmed al-Safi.
He called on parliament to enact electoral reforms to pave the road for “free and transparent” early elections, warning that doing otherwise would lead to “the country paying a dear cost, and everyone will regret it”.
“The enemies and their agents are planning to achieve their despicable goals in spreading chaos, destruction, and getting dragged into civil war, and then making the country go back to the despicable dictatorial era,” Sistani added.
Protests demanding jobs, basic services, and action against corruption began in Baghdad on October 1 before spreading nationwide.
The unrest died down during the Shiite religious observance of Arbaeen before resuming on October 25 – this time with calls to sweep away the old political parties that have held power in Iraq since the US-led invasion of 2003.
Iraq’s security forces have been widely condemned for their use of military-grade tear gas canisters fired directly into crowds of protesters, causing fatalities and catastrophic head injuries.
Abdul-Mahdi, an independent technocrat, took office in October 2018 following lengthy government formation talks. It is not yet clear whether the parliament will accept his resignation.
Near the end of October, a political alliance in the Iraqi parliament, supported by firebrand Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, failed to remove Abdul-Mahdi after pro-Iran leader Hadi al-Amiri refused to back the plan.
The Iraqi PM had been given 45 days by political leaders earlier this month to enact reforms and make changes.
Al-Sadr took to Twitter on Friday to express his joy over the announcement, thanking those who made it happen.
"I have previously suggested this [resignation of Abdul-Mahdi] for the sake of the interests of Iraqis," he said, adding that this new development is "the first product of the revolution, but not the last."
He suggested that the new prime minister should be elected through a referendum by people.
Updated at 8:41 PM
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