The Iraqi parliament on Saturday organized a ceremony to honor Qasem Soleimani, the top Iranian commander who was killed in a US drone strike on January 3 in Baghdad.
The parliament also paid tribute to Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, an Iraqi Shiite militia leader who was killed in the same US strike.
A photo exhibition of the two men was held as part of the commemoration ceremony.
Reasons behind the National al-Sanad bloc, which is close to Iran, organizing the ceremony some two weeks before the actual date of the anniversary remain unknown. Some have speculated that the holidays being around the corner and consequent unavailability of lawmakers could have played a factor.
Many Iraqi officials, including Parliament Speaker Mohammed al-Halbousi, his deputy Hassal al-Kaabi, other Shiite militia commanders as well as Iran’s Ambassador to Iraq, Iraj Masjedi were present at the ceremony.
It is worth noting that speeches from the Iraqi president and prime minister were read by representatives at the event.
Iraqis on social media, however, reacted with anger and criticized the huge hegemony of Iran on Iraqi politics, including the legislature.
“Events taking place in the Iraqi parliament are both peculiar, strange and indescribable. Matters are completely mixed. Iran's allies in parliament are practicing implicit repression of every dissenting opinion, and the weak figures and blocs have no choice but to surrender and accept what is going on,” a parliamentary source, speaking under the conditions of anonymity, told Asharq Al-Awsat.
They underlined that a commemoration for Muhandis would have been justified and accepted, but it seemed as though the entire event was devoted to the memory of Soleimani.
“It is really strange that most of the event’s enthusiasts enjoy high-level relations with the US, which killed Soleimani and Muhandis,” the source added.
The US has repeatedly said that Soleimani was responsible for attacks targeting US soldiers in Iraq and other areas.
