Mass Arrests Sweep Iraq Targeting Political Figures Amid Corruption Crackdown

According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, a widespread operation to detain political figures and members of the Iraqi parliament accused of corruption has been underway since early Sunday, with arrests continuing. A high-level source previously informed the official Iraqi News Agency that several individuals implicated in corruption cases were apprehended based on confessions from the Deputy Oil Minister.

The highly fortified Green Zone in central Baghdad witnessed a substantial deployment of security forces and a broad surge of arrests on Sunday morning. These detentions included prominent political figures and senior officials facing allegations of financial corruption and abuse of power.

A security source told Al Jazeera that the Counter-Terrorism Service conducted a series of arrests, encompassing officials, political personalities, and members of parliament, on charges related to financial and administrative corruption. The source confirmed that these arrests were carried out under judicial orders.

Reports indicate that dozens of officials were detained in the early hours, including members of parliament whose immunity was revoked due to accusations of financial and administrative corruption amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars. This marks a significant action by the new Iraqi government, which has been in office for less than two months.

The detentions have extended to individuals in various parts of Baghdad and local officials in other Iraqi provinces. Security and legal sources described these actions as the commencement of a broader anti-corruption campaign.

The Iraqi News Agency, quoting a senior source, reported that “a number of individuals accused of financial corruption were arrested based on the confessions of Adnan Al-Jamil, the Deputy Oil Minister, who was arrested last month. He possessed tens of millions of dollars and collaborated with influential figures in the legislative and executive branches.”

These developments occurred concurrently with heightened security measures at the entrances and roads leading to the Green Zone, which houses embassies, diplomatic missions, international organizations, government offices, and the residences of senior officials. Social media footage depicted a significant presence of military vehicles and armored personnel carriers, including tanks and armored vehicles, in parts of the Green Zone. The images also showed security forces inside residential complexes and homes, as well as the closure of several main entrances to the area.

In a related development, security vehicles were observed moving through several streets in Baghdad, according to footage broadcast by Iraqi media.

These events unfold as Iraq’s new Prime Minister, Ali Al-Zaidi, has pledged a decisive approach to combating corruption and mismanagement that has plagued the country for decades.

Some high-ranking sources informed the official Iraqi News Agency that pursuit operations against individuals accused of corruption are ongoing in Baghdad and other provinces. The sources added that 47 members of parliament and Iraqi officials have been arrested on corruption charges.

Notable among those arrested is Muthanna Al-Samarrai, head of the Azm Coalition and a member of the Iraqi parliament, on corruption charges. According to these sources, other arrested members of parliament include Ziyad Al-Janabi, Bahaa Al-Nouri, Mohammed Al-Karboli, Alia Nassif, Mohammed Jamil Al-Miyahi, Hassan Al-Khafaji, Abdul Rahman Al-Luwaizi, Mudhar Al-Kroui, Hind Al-Abbasi, Mohammed Farman Al-Jubouri, and Bushra Al-Qaisi.

The sources also stated that former member of parliament Mohammed Al-Saihoud, Ali Maaraj, Deputy Minister of Oil for Distribution Affairs, and Ibrahim Al-Sumaidi, a former Iraqi advisor, are among those arrested on corruption charges.

The Iraqi Federal Integrity Commission announced on Sunday the initiation of decisive measures to execute judicial rulings and arrest individuals who have misappropriated public funds. A statement from the commission indicated that it has commenced “decisive actions to implement arrest warrants issued by the judiciary against a number of defendants accused of abusing their positions and misappropriating public funds.”

The commission emphasized that this achievement is the result of close cooperation among the judicial, executive, and integrity branches, which directly led to the execution of these rulings. It added that the issuance and execution of these orders were based on continuous and precise follow-up, investigation, and oversight by the relevant institutions.

The Federal Integrity Commission further noted that all its actions are conducted with utmost care, within the framework of the law, and based on legal rulings. The body stated that it draws its strength and motivation from the extensive support of the public, the rule of law, and the continuous backing and support of the head of the Supreme Judicial Council, the Prime Minister, and the Speaker of the Council of Representatives of Iraq.

The commission concluded by reaffirming its full commitment to providing accurate and transparent information to public opinion regarding the details of its activities and actions, within the scope of applicable laws and regulations.

Safwan Al-Ghariri, Secretary-General of the Iraqi Parliament, explained that the constitution and parliamentary bylaws grant the Speaker of Parliament, or their deputy in their absence, the authority to individually lift the immunity of any MP facing judicial proceedings during recess, without the need for a voting session.

Al-Ghariri stated that the Speaker of Parliament, Mohammed Al-Halbousi, returned to the country yesterday following an overseas trip. He confirmed that the lifting of immunities was officially signed within the past 48 hours in coordination with the Supreme Judicial Council.

The Secretary-General of the Iraqi Parliament emphasized that the arrest of several MPs, following the lifting of their immunities, was a direct decision by the Parliament’s presidency in conjunction with judicial rulings.

In a separate statement, government spokesperson Haider Al-Aboudi told Al Jazeera that the government is adopting a specific strategy to combat corruption, and the arrests are continuing as part of this anti-corruption plan. He added that the government’s approach to fighting corruption is ongoing as it is one of the most important pillars of state sovereignty. The anti-corruption efforts are being praised for their transparency in protecting public funds.