The so-called Iraqi resistance announced that it will stage demonstrations in rejection of the results of the recent parliamentary elections which saw the victory of the Sadrist movement of influential cleric Moqtada al-Sadr and a surprise defeat of other Shiite powers.
The losing Shiite groups have since formed the Coordination Framework that has declared its rejection of the results, saying it would appeal them.
Member of the Hikma movement – one of the losing parties – Fahd al-Jabbouri stated that the blocs of the Coordination Framework have reviewed the results of the polls, saying: “We have enough evidence that proves that foreign forces have conspired with internal ones to eliminate important Shiite parties.”
He said the Coordination Framework has recordings that can prove these plans.
Moreover, he revealed that supporters of the groups of the Coordination Framework will take to the streets this week to protest the results and “demand their rights that were usurped during the vote.”
The demonstrations ultimately aim for the government to annul the results of the polls, the Coordination Framework had said in a statement on Sunday.
Also on Sunday, the “coordinative of armed faction” warned it may resort to violence should the peaceful protesters, who are opposed to the elections results, be attacked.
“The Iraqi resistance has and will always be a deterrent force against all deceitful projects that target our people,” it stressed, underscoring the rights of the Iraqi people to “protest against everyone who wronged them and usurped their rights”.
“We severely warn against any attempt to attack or violate the dignity of our people as they defend their rights,” it added
On Saturday, the Coordination Framework had held the Independent High Electoral Commission “completely” responsible for the “failure of the elections”.
It accused it of mismanaging the polls, “which will negatively impact the democratic path and social consensus” in Iraq.
Chairman of the Iraq Advisory Council (IAC), Farhad Alaaldin told Asharq Al-Awsat that the elections sprung a surprise in Iraq.
“Away from all the doubts over the results, the elections have created a new reality that cannot be denied by the political forces,” he noted.
The forces need to seriously review why their supporters chose to boycott the elections, he added.
The electoral commission said the voter turnout reached 43%.
“The results were a shock to some traditional Shiite parties that had dominated the political scene for the past two decades,” continued Alaaldin.
In wake of the results, two main rival Shiite camps have emerged: The Sadrist movement and the State of Law coalition, headed by former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, he remarked. New faces that represent the youth protesters of the 2019 uprising have also emerged.
