Iraq Prosecution to Probe 'Maliki WikiLeaks'

A supporter of Iraqi Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr lifts a placard depicting him during a a collective Friday prayer in Sadr City, east of Baghdad on July 15, 2022. (AFP)
A supporter of Iraqi Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr lifts a placard depicting him during a a collective Friday prayer in Sadr City, east of Baghdad on July 15, 2022. (AFP)
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Iraq Prosecution to Probe 'Maliki WikiLeaks'

A supporter of Iraqi Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr lifts a placard depicting him during a a collective Friday prayer in Sadr City, east of Baghdad on July 15, 2022. (AFP)
A supporter of Iraqi Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr lifts a placard depicting him during a a collective Friday prayer in Sadr City, east of Baghdad on July 15, 2022. (AFP)

Iraq’s judiciary is expected to examine two complaints to probe the voice recordings attributed to former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki in which he criticized politicians, notably his rival cleric Moqtada al-Sadr.

Known in Iraq as the “Maliki WikiLeaks”, the former PM threatened to attack Najaf city to protect the country’s highest Shiite authority should Sadr attack it himself.

Lawyers who filed the complaints have demanded that Maliki be held accountable for the recordings, which they said “harm national security and incite strife and sectarian violence.”

A rights source told Asharq Al-Awsat that Maliki may be tried in a special court over terrorism charges.

He added, however, that a trial is unlikely because the judiciary in Iraq is politicized.

On Wednesday, activist and journalist Ali Fadhel released around one minute of the recording. He has around 48 minutes worth of recordings and will release a minute or two a day so that they will have a popular and political impact in the country.

In the latest recording on Sunday, Maliki said: “The coming phase is that of fighting. I told this yesterday to Prime Minister [Mustafa] al-Kadhimi.”

“I told him that I am not relying on you, the army or the police. They will not do anything,” he was heard saying.

“Iraq is approaching a brutal war from which no one will emerge unscathed unless we manage to stop Sadr, [parliament Speaker Mohammed] al-Halbousi and Masoud Barzani,” he added.

Maliki’s remarks clearly date back to two months when the Sadr-Halbousi-Barzani alliance was still standing. Around a month ago, Sadr’s parliamentary bloc of 73 MPs resigned from the legislature.

Maliki was also heard saying that he was arming ten to 15 groups “in preparation for the critical phase.”

He said he would attack Najaf and protect the Shiite authority and the people should Sadr attack.

The former PM also expressed his disappointment with the Popular Mobilization Forces, ruling out the possibility of working with them and describing them as a “nation of cowards.”

Maliki has since twice denied that his voice was in the recordings.

Iraqis have dismissed his denial, saying the voice and ideas expressed in the recordings were “exactly how the former PM would think and act.”

Iraqi researcher at Arizona State University Saleem Suzah said he has no doubt that the recordings are that of Maliki.

In a Facebook post, he added that the tone of voice and manner of speaking heard in the recordings match Maliki’s.

Political researcher Yehya al-Kabisi said Maliki’s remarks are nothing new as these are statements he has often spoken to his guests. But this is the first time they are released in the open.

Sadr, meanwhile, has dismissed the recordings and called on his supporters to do the same because “we have no regard for Maliki.”



Yemen PM, EU Discuss Future Partnership

Yemeni Prime Minister Salem Saleh bin Braik meets with European officials on Wednesday. (Saba)
Yemeni Prime Minister Salem Saleh bin Braik meets with European officials on Wednesday. (Saba)
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Yemen PM, EU Discuss Future Partnership

Yemeni Prime Minister Salem Saleh bin Braik meets with European officials on Wednesday. (Saba)
Yemeni Prime Minister Salem Saleh bin Braik meets with European officials on Wednesday. (Saba)

The European Union has informed the Yemeni government that it will issue a statement about the situation in Yemen that will tackle the Houthi attacks on Red Sea navigation and the harm they have incurred in the country, region and world, informed sources told Asharq Al-Awsat.

The EU last made such a statement in appreciation of the government three years ago. This time, it will be more explicit in condemning the Houthis, the sources added on condition of anonymity.

Yemeni Prime Minister Salem Saleh bin Braik held talks on Wednesday with Managing Director for Middle East and North Africa in the EU’s European External Action Service Helene Le Gal and EU Ambassador to Yemen Gabriel Vinals.

The sources continued: “The EU believes that the damage caused by the Houthis was no longer just a Yemeni problem, especially after their attacks on Red Sea shipping.”

This will determine EU policy and how to handle Yemen, they said.

Wednesday’s meeting covered the current and future partnership between Yemen and the EU and the diplomatic, humanitarian and economic support it is providing to the war-torn country.

It tackled support to the Yemeni coastguard in their efforts to combat smuggling and protect international navigation, as well as joint coordination in confronting regional and international challenges, reported the Yemen’s Saba news agency.

The meeting reviewed the government’s service and economic priorities and its comprehensive reform efforts.

The gatherers discussed Yemen’s humanitarian needs and efforts to ease the suffering of the people that has been compounded by Houthi attacks on oil facilities and Red Sea shipping.

They covered current and future cooperation and the EU’s support for Yemen and its preparations to hold a humanitarian conference in Brussels later this month.