Al-Sadr responds to threats: If you want to escalate, I will do it.
Al-Sadr responds to threats: If you want to escalate, I will do it.
2025-09-29 03:35
Shafaq News – Baghdad
On Monday, the leader of the Shiite National Movement, Muqtada al-Sadr, responded to recent threats regarding a plot to assassinate him.
Al-Sadr said in a post on the X platform: “These are the first elections in Iraq without the Shiite National Movement, and this has led to increased fears among participants, and with it their speculation about possible scenarios for that. It was said that the (Shiite National Movement) will prevent access to the ballot boxes by force, and it was said that it will stir up strife so that the atmosphere is not ready for holding the elections, and it was said that it will resort to its millions of popular bases and crowd them into the streets with protests and demonstrations that may be peaceful or otherwise.”
He added, “Some of them combine all of this… and every vessel boils down to what it contains. If things were reversed, they would have done the same thing, or even done worse. Some of them even wish that elections would not be held on the scheduled date, because they are uncertain about the outcome, as it might not be in their favor, or so that they can keep what they have gained… and their presence is more important than the democratic process, if it exists.”
Al-Sadr continued: “But what is strange in the statement is that their arrows are still directed at the ‘National Shiite Movement,’ despite its withdrawal from the democratic process, in addition to the neglected elections that are neither fattening nor satisfying, through which traitors graze and the corrupt dominate, and from which those who enacted the criminalization law and the ‘food security’ law are keeping their distance.”
He added, “Everyone should expect, in the remaining days before the election, an escalation by those who love power, those who love positions, and those who salivate over money and positions.”
Al-Sadr continued: “If you want to escalate, you know that we are up for it, and your threats will not scare us, nor will your arrows harm us. It is nothing but chatter that was issued, then after the results are announced, it will turn into conflicts between you who participated in it. The results will be different from what came before, as the people have become aware, and those who boycott will boycott, and whoever wants to participate will participate, but they will follow the instructions of their scholars and rulers, and they will not give their vote to those who have tried, because those who have tried do not try. No, no, no?!”
The leader of the Shiite National Movement highlighted issues such as drought, pollution, electricity, poor education, the deteriorating economy, border protection, health issues, hospitals that are suffering from woes, and security issues that have no guardian, adding: “The weapons of some tribes on the one hand, and the weapons of the militias on the other, and the militia headquarters that have become in every alleyway, are useless except for the presence of weapons that might explode, and the only harm is Iraqi blood.”
Al-Sadr concluded by saying, “Whoever fears the return of the Baath Party and frightens others with it, while it is a crumbling party with no impact, how will they fare in the face of other dangers: terrorism, dependency, normalization, extremism, and sectarianism?”
He concluded his remarks by pointing out that “such leaks will not be a source of strife, as we love our country and do not wish it any harm. No one will respond to your strife, as we are counting on the awareness and obedience of the (National Shiite Movement), as we have always known them to be.”
Opposition activist Ali Fadel had stated during a social media program that he had information that State of Law Coalition MP Yasser Sakhil intended to assassinate al-Sadr during his visit to his father’s shrine in Najaf using a drone.
Following this, security tensions erupted in Basra province last night following the deployment of members of Saraya al-Salam, the armed wing of the Shiite National Movement led by Sadr. This was in response to Ali Fadhil’s statements.
In response, MP Yasser al-Maliki issued a statement denying the accusations, describing the program’s content as “slander and falsehoods aimed at creating strife,” and affirming his intention to prosecute “everyone behind these allegations.”
shafaq.com
