Iraq: Issawi Acquitted of Terror Charges, Awaiting Trial in Corruption Links

Ex-Iraqi Finance Minister Rafi al-Issawi attends an anti-government demonstration in Ramadi, west of Baghdad, March 1, 2013.  Photo by REUTERS/Ali al-Mashhadani.
Ex-Iraqi Finance Minister Rafi al-Issawi attends an anti-government demonstration in Ramadi, west of Baghdad, March 1, 2013. Photo by REUTERS/Ali al-Mashhadani.
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Iraq: Issawi Acquitted of Terror Charges, Awaiting Trial in Corruption Links

Ex-Iraqi Finance Minister Rafi al-Issawi attends an anti-government demonstration in Ramadi, west of Baghdad, March 1, 2013.  Photo by REUTERS/Ali al-Mashhadani.
Ex-Iraqi Finance Minister Rafi al-Issawi attends an anti-government demonstration in Ramadi, west of Baghdad, March 1, 2013. Photo by REUTERS/Ali al-Mashhadani.

Iraq’s Supreme Judicial Council has acquitted former Finance Minister Rafi al-Issawi from terrorism-related charges, for which he had been sentenced to death in absentia, forcing him to flee in 2013.

Issawi’s dispute with former Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki began after Iraqi authorities arrested nine of his guards on terrorism charges, in light of demonstrations in Ramadi against the government's policies at the time.

He was released Tuesday on bail, the Council announced in a statement, adding that his objection to the charges against him were in line with provisions of Article (247) of the Criminal Procedure Law.

“A date has been set to hold an open trial,” the statement read, pointing out that the court will review evidence in the case and discuss it with the administrative and investigative authorities in the presence of the accused, the defense attorney and the parties that filed the complaint.

Legal expert Ahmed al-Abadi, also Issawi’s lawyer, told Asharq Al-Awsat that “under Iraq’s law, rulings issued against the accused in absentia are cancelled as soon as he surrenders. He is put on trial anew.”

“Issawi said he was ready to appear before Iraq’s judiciary because he knew he was innocent.”

In regards to the other changes against Issawi, Abadi said a lawmaker paid the former minister’s bail, and he is awaiting the next trial in July on charges related to financial and administrative corruption.

Meanwhile, dozens protested the court’s decision and organized a sit-in outside the Council’s headquarters.

Political figures from the Fatah bloc, State of Law Coalition and Hikma movement said Issawi’s return is part of a political deal that paves the way for the return of all those wanted by the Iraqi judiciary, including former vice president Tariq al-Hashemi, upon external pressure.

Prominent Sunni leader, Atheel al-Nujaifi, who also faces charges, told Asharq Al-Awsat that accusing Issawi in the first place was “an unrealistic and unbelievable issue.”

“The cases fabricated against him were not based on any objective evidence,” he stressed.

He noted that Issawi’s acquittal was expected, stressing that it would spark rage among some Sunni leaders, who have taken advantage of his absence to appear in the political scene.



Lebanon Working on Technical, Security Levels to Avoid New ‘Support War’ against Israel

President Joseph Aoun chairs a meeting with ministers and security ministers to address the Israeli-Iranian conflict and its impact on Lebanon. (Lebanese Presidency)
President Joseph Aoun chairs a meeting with ministers and security ministers to address the Israeli-Iranian conflict and its impact on Lebanon. (Lebanese Presidency)
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Lebanon Working on Technical, Security Levels to Avoid New ‘Support War’ against Israel

President Joseph Aoun chairs a meeting with ministers and security ministers to address the Israeli-Iranian conflict and its impact on Lebanon. (Lebanese Presidency)
President Joseph Aoun chairs a meeting with ministers and security ministers to address the Israeli-Iranian conflict and its impact on Lebanon. (Lebanese Presidency)

Lebanon is intensifying efforts to avert any consequences of the Israeli-Iranian war and avoid dragging the country to a new conflict under the pretext of “supporting” Iran.

Hezbollah had launched a “support front” with Gaza by launching attacks on Israel on October 8, 2023, a day after Hamas’ Al-Aqsa Flood Operation that sparked the ongoing war on Palestinian enclave.

Lebanese authorities are exerting efforts to distance the country from the latest conflict under the slogan “No new support war ... this is not our battle”.

Contacts are being held on the highest levels with countries with influence to avert any escalation in southern Lebanon along the border with Israel.

Internally, technical and security measures are being taken. Cutting short a trip to the Vatican, President Joseph Aoun held a meeting on Saturday morning with security leaders.

He met with concerned ministers to discuss the latest security developments as a result of the confrontation between Iran and Israel, said a presidency statement.

The meeting tackled the measures Lebanon needs to take to address the impact of the conflict and aviation at Beirut’s Rafik Hariri International Airport, it added.

Several measures have been taken to maintain stability in Lebanon and secure civil aviation, it said.

Aoun urged security authorities to remain on alert to maintain stability and security. Meetings will remain open to assess the developments as they unfold, said the statement.

The meeting included Minister of Defense Michel Menassa, Minister of Interior Ahmed al-Hajjar, Minister of Transportation and Public Works Fayez Rasamny, army commander Rodolphe Haykal, Internal Security Forces chief Raed Abdallah, General Security chief Hassan Choucair and others.

Ministerial sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that official efforts are operating on the technical and security levels and by holding contacts with foreign parties.

The technical efforts are focused on the airport and safety of aviation whereby flights will be halted whenever danger is detected and in coordination with regional countries, namely Syria and Jordan, they explained.

On the security level, efforts are focused on preventing Lebanon from being dragged into the conflict, with emphasis that no new “support front” will be opened in the South. Priority will be on “preemptive security intelligence,” said the sources.

Patrols along the border will be intensified and coordination will continue between the security forces so that they remain on alert for any possible emergency and prevent any security breach, they stressed.

The sources said they were optimistic that Hezbollah will not become involved in the conflict, adding that the Iran-backed party seems “aware of the consequences of any intervention.”

The danger lies in the Hamas group and other Palestinian factions that may want to attack Israel. Contacts are taking place with the concerned parties to deter them from taking any risky move, such as firing rockets at Israel from the South the way Hamas had done in the past, said the sources.

On the external level, contacts had kicked off from the moment the attack on Iran had taken place with American and French officials, with Lebanon asserting that it is not involved in the conflict and will not be a battleground for others, revealed the sources.

Efforts are underway to keep Lebanon away from the fight, they said.

The Lebanese government - through the army - had informed Hezbollah as soon as the conflict erupted that there was no need to involve Lebanon in the fight.