Iraq's top Shiite cleric, Ali al-Sistani, announced on Sunday his support to the decisions taken by Prime Minister Mustafa Kadhimi in imposing the authority of the state.
The government should call on the withdrawal of unauthorized weapons, and not to allow certain areas to fall under the influence of armed groups, Sistani said in a statement issued by his office following a meeting with Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations in Iraq.
He also expressed support to Kadhimi’s cabinet in implementing social justice, control border crossings and improve the performance of security forces which should be disciplined and professional in their actions.
He called on the government to take serious and exceptional measures to combat corruption, away from any selectivity, so that every corrupt person receives his fair punishment.
Sistani affirmed that the parliamentary elections scheduled to take place next year are of great importance and they must be credible to encourage a high turnout.
“For this purpose, they must be held in accordance with a fair law, far from the private interests of some political blocs and parties," he said.
He demanded the government to work seriously to arrest those who have committed criminal acts, including killing or wounding demonstrators, security forces, or innocent citizens, or who have attacked public or private property, since the start of anti-government protests last year.
Hennis-Plasschaert announced that Sistani calls for the elections to be held as scheduled. She said in a press statement after the meeting that Sistani called on the government to open the files of corruption and hold the perpetrators accountable, to impose the authority of the state, to withdraw unauthorized weapons, to control border crossings, to preserve the country's sovereignty and not to allow interference in its affairs.
State of Law coalition MP Hisham al-Suhail told Asharq Al-Awsat that Iraq will remain unstable unless early, fair and transparent elections are held.
“It is important that large parliamentary blocs do not interfere in the affairs of the (Independent Electoral) Commission,” he said.
The Commission’s former chief, Adel Lami, told Asharq Al-Awsat that early elections should be held based on a fair law that answers the calls of Iraqi protesters who demanded replacing the proportional representation system with a majority system.
In July, Kadhimi announced that the country's next parliamentary elections would take place on June 6, 2021, a year earlier than scheduled.
