عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Arab World

Iraq’s Kadhimi Imposes State Authority over Land, Sea Ports

Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi speaks at the Mandali crossing on the border with Iran during a visit to Diyala province on July, 11, 2020. (AP)
Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi speaks at the Mandali crossing on the border with Iran during a visit to Diyala province on July, 11, 2020. (AP)
TT
TT

Iraq’s Kadhimi Imposes State Authority over Land, Sea Ports

Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi speaks at the Mandali crossing on the border with Iran during a visit to Diyala province on July, 11, 2020. (AP)
Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi speaks at the Mandali crossing on the border with Iran during a visit to Diyala province on July, 11, 2020. (AP)

The Iraqi military announced it had deployed security personnel to 14 of the country's land and sea border crossings as part of the fulfillment of Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi’s pledge to crackdown on corruption.

Corruption and the control of armed groups of these portals cost Iraq some 10 billion dollars.

The Joint Operations Command said in a statement they have deployed security forces to all 14 portals. It added that the "decision was made by the Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces [Mustafa al-Kadhimi] ... to enforce the law and combat abuses, corruption and the wasting of public money."

The outposts include, according to the statement, the ports of Umm Qasr al-Shimali, Umm Qasr al-Jinoubi, Umm Qasr al-Awsat, Khor al-Zubair, and the land crossings of Shalamjah, Badra, al-Mundhiriyah, Safwan, al-Qaim, Trebil, al-Shaib, Zarbatiyah, Abu-Flus and Arar.

The crossings are now "the responsibility" of the Iraqi army, which is "authorized to hold to account" any person, "for any violations, no matter the side."

In late June, Kadhimi's office announced a new campaign against corruption at the country's various border crossings, saying Baghdad would take "resolute action" to institute government control over the facilities.

During the PM’s visit to the Mandali border crossing with Iran in Diyala on July 11, Kadhimi said that the government would pursue the "ghosts" that were transporting cargo trucks across the border without paying customs fees.

He ordered a team from the Emergency Response Division to take over the Mandali crossing, saying they are authorized to use live fire to stop anyone from attacking people working at the border.

Political observers in Baghdad believe that the partisan and political parties that effectively control the land borders will place more obstacles in the face of the premier’s measures.

Others believe that if Kadhimi fails in controlling all land borders, including those with Kurdistan, then he will not receive the desired cooperation from the political parties in parliament.

The borders with the Kurdistan Region are one of several disputes between the federal government and Kurdish authorities. Doubts have been raised over the PM’s ability to impose control over them if other pending issues remain unresolved.

Most Viewed

 
 
Arab World

Cairo May Request Extradition of Qaradawi’s Son from Abu Dhabi

Umayyad Square in Damascus (Reuters)
Umayyad Square in Damascus (Reuters)
TT
TT

Cairo May Request Extradition of Qaradawi’s Son from Abu Dhabi

Umayyad Square in Damascus (Reuters)
Umayyad Square in Damascus (Reuters)

As Lebanese authorities proceed with the deportation of Egyptian activist Abdel Rahman al-Qaradawi, the son of the late cleric Yusuf al-Qaradawi, to the United Arab Emirates, an Egyptian source involved in the case told Asharq Al-Awsat that Cairo plans to formally request his extradition from Abu Dhabi once he arrives there.

Controversy has surrounded the case since Lebanon announced that the government had approved the deportation of Qaradawi to the UAE instead of Egypt, where he holds citizenship.

Former Lebanese Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour explained to Asharq Al-Awsat that citizenship is not an obstacle in extradition cases between countries, saying that a state may decide to extradite a person to another country even if they hold the nationality of a third state, as in the case of Qaradawi’s son.

According to Lebanese sources, the decision to extradite Qaradawi to the UAE is based on a warrant issued by the Council of Arab Interior Ministers. As a member of the council, Lebanon is obligated to comply with the UAE’s request, despite the absence of a direct bilateral extradition agreement between the two countries.

Additionally, the extradition decision was influenced by the fact that the charges against Qaradawi are criminal, not political, as political charges would prevent extradition and instead warrant protection under international conventions.

An Egyptian judicial source told Asharq Al-Awsat that the International Cooperation Office of Egypt’s Public Prosecutor had prepared a comprehensive file containing all rulings issued against Qaradawi to ensure that the extradition request met all legal requirements. This file was sent to Lebanese judicial authorities through official channels. However, Egypt has yet to receive a response from Lebanon, though one is expected in the coming days.

Dr. Mohammed Mahmoud Mehran, a member of the American and European societies for international law, told Asharq Al-Awsat that international law generally allows extradition when the individual is either a citizen of the requesting state, has committed a crime on its territory, or when the requesting state has a direct legal interest in the case.

As Qaradawi is an Egyptian citizen, Egypt “has the legal right to request his extradition under international law and bilateral agreements, provided all legal conditions are met,” Mehran said.

Meanwhile, Qaradawi’s lawyer, Mohammed Sablouh, confirmed plans to file an urgent appeal in Lebanese courts to prevent his client’s extradition, according to Reuters. Mehran explained that extradition laws grant the individual the right to appeal in court, while the requesting states also have the right to challenge decisions.

Mehran suggested that if Qaradawi is ultimately handed over to the UAE, it is highly likely he will later be extradited to Egypt after procedural requirements in the Emirates are fulfilled. This is due to the strong bilateral relations and close security coordination between Egypt and the UAE.

Abdel Rahman al-Qaradawi, who holds dual Egyptian and Turkish citizenship, was arrested in Lebanon on December 28 after returning from Syria. His arrest followed an Interpol red notice issued based on an in absentia ruling by an Egyptian court sentencing him to five years in prison for spreading false news, inciting violence, and terrorism. Before his arrest, Qaradawi appeared in a video filmed at the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus, where he made remarks considered offensive to both Egypt and the UAE.