A Sunni opposition front formed in Anbar to remove the mantle of “leadership” from al-Halbousi
A Sunni opposition front formed in Anbar to remove the mantle of “leadership” from al-Halbousi
12-21-2022
The Unified Anbar Alliance constitutes the nucleus of a broad political front that aims to besiege the influence of the Sunni Sovereignty Alliance, especially the leader of the Taqaddam Party and the Speaker of the Iraqi Parliament, Muhammad al-Halbousi, whose influence has grown remarkably in recent years and succeeded in establishing himself as a difficult figure in the Iraqi equation, reinforced by his success in the legislative elections that took place in September of the year 2021.
Al-Halbousi, who is forty-one years old, took advantage of the political vacuum in the Iraqi Sunni arena, and its emptiness of leaders after many of them were forced to leave due to judicial prosecutions that, according to the statements of some of them, were not devoid of a “malicious tinge,” while others preferred to withdraw and hide from the scene. .
Observers say that al-Halbousi, who belongs to the well-known al-Dulaim clan in Anbar province, was able to establish a wide network of relations, especially with important regional powers such as Turkey, and he also showed extreme pragmatism in dealing with the Shiite and Kurdish forces that are furnishing the Iraqi scene.
Al-Halbousi succeeded in dealing with severe pressures during the past months in relation to the political crisis that Iraq has known and his having to choose between his former Shiite ally, the Sadrist movement.
The current ally is the coordination framework, but today it faces growing Sunni opposition from its main stronghold.
This opposition, represented by the newly formed Unified Anbar Alliance, is taking advantage of al-Halbousi’s inability or inability to implement the promises he made to his Sunni constituents, such as resolving the issue of the disappeared, returning the displaced, and achieving development in the Sunni regions, in addition to the accusations that he is pursuing of exploiting his political position to pursue opposition activists. for him.
The Unified News Alliance, led by Sunni politician and businessman Jamal al-Karbouli, claims that it is an independent national alliance that is not subject to any regional political agendas, especially Turkish and Gulf ones, and he gives a wink to the Taqaddum party led by al-Halbousi.
Observers believe that the signals of the new Sunni alliance of Turkey and the Gulf states are an attempt by it to win the support of the coordination framework that includes the forces loyal to Iran, and currently constitutes the main component of the ruling system in Iraq.
Observers add that the leaders of the new coalition are well aware that their steps to besiege the leader of the Progressive Party and the Sovereignty Alliance and limit his influence will not succeed without the support of the influential Shiite forces.
It is not yet clear the extent of this alliance’s relationship with the coordination framework, but recently, its leaders conducted a tour of some of the framework’s leaders, including the leader of Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq Qais Khazali, and the leader of the Wisdom Movement, Ammar al-Hakim, in addition to her meeting with Prime Minister Muhammad Shia’ al-Sudani.
The Unified Anbar Alliance confirmed on Monday that it has a national tendency and will never be under Turkish or Gulf influence, indicating that the coalition has political extensions with the liberated areas and its direction is one.
Observers see that the signals of the new Sunni alliance of Turkey and the Gulf states are an attempt by it to win the support of the coordination framework that includes pro-Iranian forces.
The leader of the coalition, Muhammad Dahham al-Fahdawi, said in press statements, “The Unified Anbar Alliance and the Liberated Areas is a local alliance that is fully committed to the central government in Baghdad.”
Al-Fahdawi stressed that “the coalition has not and never will be under the Turkish or Gulf cloak, as some well-known parties wear it,” noting that “the constants of the alliance are national, and it is committed to constitutional mechanisms and has broad political extensions in the rest of the liberated provinces.”
The leader of the Unified Anbar Alliance, Sheikh Abdullah Al-Jughaifi, said in previous statements that the blocs, political parties, and the Sunni masses do not recognize the existence of a leader for the Sunni component, indicating that whoever claims otherwise is lacking legitimacy.
Iraqi activists believe that the chances of this alliance succeeding or not in ending al-Halbousi’s influence depend on the ability of this coalition to attract political and societal forces in the Sunni arena who are dissatisfied with the way al-Halbousi is dealing.
The coalition has already taken steps in this regard and has succeeded in winning over a number of personalities and forces, the latest of which is the Iraqi Unity Gathering Party, which is led by the sheikh of the Qadiriyya Alexanzanian order, Shams al-Din Nehru Muhammad al-Kisanani, who defected from the al-Halbousi party.
The leader of the Unified Anbar Alliance, Hikmat Suleiman, expected that “mass withdrawals from the Taqaddam coalition will take place, as happened with the head of the National Unity Gathering, Nehru al-Kisanzani.”
And Haider Al-Mulla and Ahmed withdrew before
Known as Abu Mazen (4 seats in parliament), and MP Laith al-Dulaimi from the Taqaddam coalition.
Activists indicate that al-Halbousi seems to be reaping today the results of the policy of monopolizing the Sunni decision, and this is what made many Sunni personalities and components move away from him, and this is what calls him to pause and reconsider his current path, with the presence of many who want to pounce on it politically.
The Sunni leader and former governor of Nineveh, Atheel al-Nujaifi, said, “Al-Halbousi does not have the necessary qualifications to remain in the position of speaker of the Iraqi parliament, had it not been for the Shiite support for him.”
Al-Nujaifi, who is the brother of the former parliament speaker, Osama al-Nujaifi, explained in statements to the Iraqi website “MADA” that “Al-Halbousi treats his opponents with slander and uses his influence in some state institutions on them, such as fabricating charges and harassing them until they needed years of judicial follow-up to prove their innocence.”
He continued, “And he treats his followers with superiority and constant humiliation, and that is why many of his allies abandon him from time to time.. Now the Shiites discovered that their support for him was not in place, but was reflected on them.” “Now, many of his Sunni allies have abandoned al-Halbousi, and he is left with nothing but his ability to persuade the Shiite parties to continue supporting him,” the Sunni leader said.
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