By Ali Jawad
BAGHDAD (AA) – Iraq’s al-Ahrar political bloc, which is led by prominent Shia leader Muqtada al-Sadr, said Tuesday that al-Sadr “rejected” anti-Iran slogans that were reportedly chanted by his followers during their temporary occupation of parliament last weekend.
“Slogans chanted against Iran after the Green Zone was stormed are rejected by al-Sadr himself, by the Al-Ahrar bloc and by the Sadrist masses,” bloc head Diaa al-Asadi said in a statement.
In regard to reports that al-Sadr had recently visited Iran, al-Asadi asserted: “If these reports are correct — I have no information about it — I don’t know why the visit has caused such a fuss”.
“Al-Sadr has relatives in Beirut and Iran who he visits occasionally, not to mention the political, social and religious contacts he has in many countries,” al-Asadi added. “What’s the problem?”
On Saturday, thousands of al-Sadr’s supporters forced their way into Baghdad’s heavily-fortified Green Zone and occupied the Iraqi parliament building before withdrawing the following day.
In recent months, al-Sadr supporters have staged several mass demonstrations in Baghdad with a view to pressing Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi to appoint a government of “technocrats” untainted by corruption or sectarian affiliations.
During their temporary occupation of the assembly last weekend, a number of Sadrist demonstrators reportedly shouted anti-Iran slogans.
“Many protesters are chanting anti-Iran slogans because they believe Iran is covertly promoting sectarianism in Iraq by supporting corrupt politicians,” demonstrator Karim Hassan told Anadolu Agency on Sunday from inside the Green Zone.
