Al-Sudani’s pressure forces the head of the Iraqi Integrity Commission to resign

Al-Sudani’s pressure forces the head of the Iraqi Integrity Commission to resign

11-14-2022

BAGHDAD – The pressures exerted by the government of Muhammad Shia al-Sudani on the Iraqi Integrity Commission forced its head, Alaa Jawad al-Saadi, to resign from his post on Sunday “in light of the smear and defamation campaigns that the commission was subjected to.” dollars, which was described as the largest embezzlement in the history of the country, about a month ago. However, appointing Haider Hanoun Zayer, who is accused of corruption, as the new head of the commission, deepens Iraqis’ doubts about the government’s seriousness in fighting corruption.

Media reports circulated that Al-Saadi’s resignation came at the request of the Prime Minister himself.

Last week, the Iraqi Prime Minister transferred the Director General of Investigations in the Integrity Commission, Karim Al-Ghazi, outside the Commission, accusing him of failing to perform his duties in the file of corruption related to tax secretariats or what was known as the “theft of the century.” While Al-Ghazi’s dismissal seemed to put pressure on the Commission, in addition to to campaigns on social media.

The Iraqi Supreme Judicial Council previously announced in August 2016 that Zayer had been relieved of his post due to corruption charges.

In his various statements, Al-Sudani stresses the priority of combating corruption, while his opponents, especially the Sadrist movement, accuse him of working to cover up the real corrupt, referring to the forces that support him and are part of the coordination framework, downplaying the importance of his pledge to combat this phenomenon, which his predecessor Mustafa Al-Kazemi had raised slogan fight it too.

Because of the failure of all previous governments to combat the phenomenon of corruption, Iraqis lost hope and began to view Al-Sudani’s anti-corruption moves as having political purposes aimed at adding seriousness to the government’s efforts to combat rampant corruption, and appearing as the country’s savior from this scourge.

These concerns were exacerbated by the announcement of the acceptance of Al-Saadi’s resignation and the appointment of Judge Zayer, who was accused of corruption six years ago, which sparked popular anger on social media.

In August 2016, the Iraqi Supreme Judicial Council announced that Zayer had been dismissed from his post due to corruption charges, and he is a leader in the pro-Iranian Fatah Alliance headed by Hadi al-Amiri.

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In its decision, the Council affirmed that Zayer’s dismissal came on the basis of corruption charges, noting at the same time that the judge was referred to the Disciplinary Committee for the trial of judges, which will decide his fate, but the media and official authorities did not announce that he had been put on trial, which indicates a settlement.

Two years after the exemption, Zayer reappeared as a candidate for the 2018 elections for the Al-Fateh Alliance headed by Hadi al-Amiri.

In July last year, the Supreme Judicial Council announced the appointment of Zayer as president of the Court of Appeal of the southern Maysan Governorate, by a republican decree.

A statement issued by the Iraqi government on Sunday stated that Al-Sudani finished assigning Al-Saadi to head the Integrity Commission at his request, and appreciated his efforts in the previous stage, and assigned Zayer in his place to carry out the duties of acting as head of the Commission.

Al-Sudani stressed that the government is continuing efforts to combat corruption, recover looted Iraqi funds, and hold those involved in integrity issues accountable, as this file receives priority in the ministerial curriculum.

On Sunday, Al-Saadi announced his resignation from his post, due to the “defamation and defamation campaigns that the commission was subjected to.”

Al-Saadi said in a press statement, “Out of the national responsibility entrusted to us, and our lack of clinging to the position, but rather our asceticism in it, and our inability to continue in our position, after the campaigns of defamation and defamation that our institution was subjected to, we apply to the Prime Minister with a request to be exempt from the position.”

He added, “Assuming an important position in the national oversight bodies is not a matter of honor and pleasure that the assigned person can enjoy. Difficulties and problems with several parties within the executive authority or the blocs supporting its members in the legislative authority.

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