National Wisdom Movement Says Iraq's Govt. Lacks Credibility

National Wisdom Movement Says Iraq's Govt. Lacks Credibility
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National Wisdom Movement Says Iraq's Govt. Lacks Credibility

National Wisdom Movement Says Iraq's Govt. Lacks Credibility

Iraq's National Wisdom Movement, led by Ammar al-Hakim, issued Monday a shocking and prolonged report, the first since its decision to move to the opposition in June. It revealed in its report that the achievements made by Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi’s government over six months don’t exceed 38 percent.

It revoked the 79 percent rate mentioned in the report issued by the government end of June, covering the period since Abdul Mahdi has taken office in October 2018.

Sources close to the Iraqi government told Asharq Al-Awsat they rule out any response by the government to the recent report issued by the opposition Movement.

While members of the Movement say the report is “in favor of the government and aims at correcting its work rather than criticizing it.”

According to the Movement’s report, a group of experts examined what the government issued on its achievements and concluded that the achievement rate doesn’t exceed 38 percent.

It said the figures announced by the government lack accuracy and credibility and that the percentage of projects implemented is only four percent.

The government’s report also didn’t tackle the relation between the federal government and the Kurdistan region despite its major problems with Baghdad, according to the Movement’s report, which highlighted the pledge made by the government’s plan to solve these issues.

It also noted that “some of the work, considered by the government as achievements in its report, is limited to some maintenance projects, book printing and the preparation of studies.”

The government’s report also attributed service achievements to Abdul Mahdi’s government while they were completed under previous governments.

The opposition Movement’s report, however, tackled the work and achievements of all the ministries and showed that the report issued by the government is baseless, the leader in the National Wisdom Movement, Mohamed Hossam al-Husseini, told Asharq Al-Awsat.



Tunisians Protest Against President as Jailed Politicians Begin Hunger Strike

Figures detained on conspiracy charges in Tunisia - ( Ghazi Chaouachi official social media page)
Figures detained on conspiracy charges in Tunisia - ( Ghazi Chaouachi official social media page)
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Tunisians Protest Against President as Jailed Politicians Begin Hunger Strike

Figures detained on conspiracy charges in Tunisia - ( Ghazi Chaouachi official social media page)
Figures detained on conspiracy charges in Tunisia - ( Ghazi Chaouachi official social media page)

Hundreds of Tunisians staged two protest rallies on Wednesday against what they say is the authoritarian rule of President Kais Saied and demanded the release of political prisoners, while six detained opposition figures held a hunger strike.

Saied seized extra powers in 2021 when he shut down the elected parliament and moved to rule by decree before assuming authority over the judiciary. The opposition described his move as a coup, Reuters reported.

Supporters of the opposition Free Constitutional Party gathered in the capital Tunis to demand the release of their detained leader Abir Moussi. They chanted slogans such as "Saied, dictator, your turn has come," and "Free Abir".

"What is happening is true tyranny, no freedom for the opposition, no freedom for the media. Any word can send you to prison," one protester, Hayat Ayari, told Reuters.

Hundreds of supporters of another opposition party, the Salvation Front, staged a separate rally, also in Tunis, to demand the release of detained politicians, activists and journalists.

Six prominent opposition figures detained on conspiracy charges have begun a hunger strike in prison to protest against their impending trial, their lawyers said on Wednesday.

Abdelhamid Jelassi, Jawhar Ben Mbarek, Khiyam Turki, Ridha Belhaj, Issam Chebbi and Ghazi Chaouachi - all detained in 2023 during a crackdown on the opposition - have refused to participate in what they say is an "unfair trial".

Saied said in 2023 that the detainees were "traitors and terrorists" and that the judges who acquitted them were their accomplices.

The detainees have denied any wrongdoing and have said they were preparing an initiative aimed at uniting Tunisia's fragmented opposition.

Most leaders of political parties are now in prison including two of Saied's most prominent opponents, Moussi and Rached Ghannouchi, the head of the Ennahda party.

The government says there is democracy in Tunisia and Saied says he will not be a dictator, but that what he calls a corrupt elite must be held accountable.