What The 24 Hour Chaos In Iraq Says About Who Controls The Country

“He sends a message to his rivals that he is a major player in the country,” Jiyad said. “It also has the ability to use force as much as any other side.” Here’s what you need to know about the chaos in Iraq: Who is Muqtada Al Sadr? Al-Sadr, 48, is a cleric from a prominent Shiite family that has the support of millions across the country.
His father, Ayatollah Muhammad Sadiq al-Sadr, was a prominent Shiite figure who spoke out against Saddam Hussein and his ruling Baath party. He was killed in 1999, in an operation believed to have been the work of Saddam’s forces or his loyalists. The younger al-Sadr then inherited his father’s popularity. Al-Sadr’s ability to reinvent his role in Iraqi politics and tap into a strong vein of Shiite protest has helped him survive and overcome many rivals over the past two decades. His latest move reinforces his position as one of the most important figures in Iraq. How is his relationship with foreign powers? Al-Sadr is best known in the US for his role in leading the Mahdi Army, which he formed in 2003 during the US invasion of Iraq to fight against US-led coalition forces. He fled to Iran during the US occupation of Iraq and returned to his country in 2011. Since then, he has become one of the fiercest critics of Tehran’s influence in Iraq and has tried to counter it. He now styles himself as an Iraqi nationalist. The cleric has good relations with Gulf Arab states such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, which see Iran as a threat to regional security. “The US and the Gulf have indirectly supported al-Sadr because of his stance against Iran, ignoring his historically strong ties to Iran and Iran’s ability to influence him,” said Marsin Alshamary, a Middle East researcher at the Kennedy School. of Harvard. Initiative. What triggered Monday’s events? Parliamentary elections in October 2021 saw Iran-backed Shiite blocs lose seats to the Sadrists. Despite his victory, al-Sadr failed to form a government amid opposition from Iranian-backed rivals. So in June, he withdrew his bloc from parliament in protest. The Iran-backed bloc then tried to form a government without his support in July, prompting Sadrists to stage demonstrations outside parliament. Al-Sadr’s announcement on Monday to retire from politics for good, however, came after the spiritual leader of his Iran-based movement, Grand Ayatollah Qadim Al-Khairi, said he would step down as a Shia religious authority and called on his followers to pledge religious allegiance to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. In addition to being Iran’s leader, Khamenei is also a Shia religious authority with followers beyond its borders.
Al-Sadr said he did not believe al-Khairi resigned of his own volition, suggesting he was pressured by Iran to do so to weaken him. The resignation was an “unprecedented move for an Ayatollah,” Alsamari said. “[Al-Haeri] he also criticized Sadr for the instability in Iraq… I think [his] The statement was released under pressure from Iran.” What’s next? Al-Sadr’s exit from politics, if sincere, could leave the remaining Shiites, many of whom are backed by Iran, to dominate the country’s politics.
“Public opinion in Iraq is strongly anti-Iranian, which means that any future elections — if they are free and fair and with decent participation, may result in new political parties representing the Iraqi way,” Alsamari said. Iraqi President Barham Salih said on Tuesday that while an end to the violence was critical to stopping the bloodshed, it did not mean the political crisis was over. He suggested holding early elections as a way out of the impasse.
Jiyad said there is not much hope for change. “If early elections are going to have a negative result, [the ruling elite] will postpone these elections and maintain the status quo,” he said. “It’s about who is willing to back down or compromise — neither side is willing to do that. As politicians squabble, Iraq’s most pressing problems, such as power outages, remain unresolved, Jiyad said. “They mistake the patience of the people for servitude,” he said. “I think eventually there will be protests.”

Digestion

Saudi woman sentenced to 45 years in prison for tweet, rights group says A Saudi court has sentenced Nourah bint Saeed al-Qahtani to 45 years in prison for social media posts critical of the country’s rulers, Reuters reported, citing rights group DAWN. The move comes just weeks after another Saudi woman, Salma al-Shehab, was sentenced to 34 years for posting “false and trivial rumors on Twitter”.

Background: Al-Qahtani was sentenced after Saudi Arabia’s Special Criminal Court convicted her of “using the Internet to tear down the [country’s] social web” and “violating public order using social media” under the Anti-Terrorism and Cybercrime Act, according to a court document obtained by Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN). The Saudi government’s media office did not respond to a Reuters request for comment.

Why it matters: Human rights groups have repeatedly criticized anti-terrorism and cybercrime laws for allowing the government to oppress citizens. Both laws are vague enough to give Saudi authorities maximum discretion with little to no accountability for excesses, according to DAWN. “In both the al-Shebab and al-Qahtani cases, Saudi authorities used abusive laws to target and punish Saudi citizens for criticizing the government on Twitter,” said Abdullah al-Aoudh, director of research for the region of the Gulf at DAWN.

US Navy thwarts Iranian attempt to capture US drone in Persian Gulf The US Navy prevented an Iranian ship from capturing a US maritime drone in the Persian Gulf on Monday night local time, in what a senior US commander called a “flagrant” and “unjustified” incident. Iran’s Nour News, which is affiliated with the Supreme National Security Council, said: “These types of ships… can be the source of unpredictable maritime accidents due to the possibility of disruption of navigational communications.”

Background: As U.S. forces in the region crossed international waters on Monday, they saw an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy support ship towing a U.S.-operated maritime drone, also known as the Saildrone Explorer unmanned surface vessel. said the US Naval Forces Central Command. After the Iranians attached a line to the drone, US forces contacted the Iranians directly to say they wanted the drone back. When the US responded with a ship and helicopter, the Iranian vessel disconnected the tow line from the drone and departed the area four hours later.

Why it matters: The incident comes at a critical time in relations between Iran and the US. Negotiations to revive the 2015 Iran nuclear deal are at a delicate stage, and US officials had expressed some optimism about the latest efforts. However, they have stressed that gaps remain between the two sides.

Iran says it is seeking stronger safeguards in the nuclear deal
Iran needs stronger guarantees from Washington to revive the 2015 nuclear deal, its foreign minister said in Moscow on Wednesday, adding that the UN atomic watchdog should drop “politically motivated investigations” into Tehran’s nuclear program , Reuters reported.

Background: After 16 months of indirect talks between Tehran and Washington, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on August 8 that the EU had made a final offer to break an impasse on reviving the deal. This was Hossein Amir-Abdollahian’s third trip to Moscow as Foreign Minister. The semi-official Fars news agency reported that the main focus of the visit will be the crisis in Ukraine.

Why it matters: The comment from Amir-Abdollahian came as Iran considers Washington’s response to a final text drafted by the European Union that aims to break an impasse in efforts to revive the 2015 nuclear deal.

What is the trend?

Saudi Arabia: #Orphans_of_Khamis_Mushait Video of uniformed and civilian men arresting and violently beating women in an alleged orphanage has gone viral in Saudi Arabia. The hashtag #Orphans_of_Khamis_Mushait was the top trend on Twitter in the kingdom on Wednesday, surpassing another hashtag celebrating Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s 37th birthday. Men are seen tying a woman’s legs as she struggles to free herself. CNN has not verified the authenticity of the video. The government of the southern region of Assir, where the town of Khamis Mushait is located, issued a statement saying a committee would be formed to investigate the matter “in relation to videos and photos circulated on social media showing an incident” at a social service house in Khamis Mushait.

Photo of the day

title: “What The 24 Hour Chaos In Iraq Says About Who Controls The Country Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-04” author: “Patricia Washington”

“He sends a message to his rivals that he is a major player in the country,” Jiyad said. “It also has the ability to use force as much as any other side.” Here’s what you need to know about the chaos in Iraq: Who is Muqtada Al Sadr? Al-Sadr, 48, is a cleric from a prominent Shiite family that has the support of millions across the country.
His father, Ayatollah Muhammad Sadiq al-Sadr, was a prominent Shiite figure who spoke out against Saddam Hussein and his ruling Baath party. He was killed in 1999, in an operation believed to have been the work of Saddam’s forces or his loyalists. The younger al-Sadr then inherited his father’s popularity. Al-Sadr’s ability to reinvent his role in Iraqi politics and tap into a strong vein of Shiite protest has helped him survive and overcome many rivals over the past two decades. His latest move reinforces his position as one of the most important figures in Iraq. How is his relationship with foreign powers? Al-Sadr is best known in the US for his role in leading the Mahdi Army, which he formed in 2003 during the US invasion of Iraq to fight against US-led coalition forces. He fled to Iran during the US occupation of Iraq and returned to his country in 2011. Since then, he has become one of the fiercest critics of Tehran’s influence in Iraq and has tried to counter it. He now styles himself as an Iraqi nationalist. The cleric has good relations with Gulf Arab states such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, which see Iran as a threat to regional security. “The US and the Gulf have indirectly supported al-Sadr because of his stance against Iran, ignoring his historically strong ties to Iran and Iran’s ability to influence him,” said Marsin Alshamary, a Middle East researcher at the Kennedy School. of Harvard. Initiative. What triggered Monday’s events? Parliamentary elections in October 2021 saw Iran-backed Shiite blocs lose seats to the Sadrists. Despite his victory, al-Sadr failed to form a government amid opposition from Iranian-backed rivals. So in June, he withdrew his bloc from parliament in protest. The Iran-backed bloc then tried to form a government without his support in July, prompting Sadrists to stage demonstrations outside parliament. Al-Sadr’s announcement on Monday to retire from politics for good, however, came after the spiritual leader of his Iran-based movement, Grand Ayatollah Qadim Al-Khairi, said he would step down as a Shia religious authority and called on his followers to pledge religious allegiance to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. In addition to being Iran’s leader, Khamenei is also a Shia religious authority with followers beyond its borders.
Al-Sadr said he did not believe al-Khairi resigned of his own volition, suggesting he was pressured by Iran to do so to weaken him. The resignation was an “unprecedented move for an Ayatollah,” Alsamari said. “[Al-Haeri] he also criticized Sadr for the instability in Iraq… I think [his] The statement was released under pressure from Iran.” What’s next? Al-Sadr’s exit from politics, if sincere, could leave the remaining Shiites, many of whom are backed by Iran, to dominate the country’s politics.
“Public opinion in Iraq is strongly anti-Iranian, which means that any future elections — if they are free and fair and with decent participation, may result in new political parties representing the Iraqi way,” Alsamari said. Iraqi President Barham Salih said on Tuesday that while an end to the violence was critical to stopping the bloodshed, it did not mean the political crisis was over. He suggested holding early elections as a way out of the impasse.
Jiyad said there is not much hope for change. “If early elections are going to have a negative result, [the ruling elite] will postpone these elections and maintain the status quo,” he said. “It’s about who is willing to back down or compromise — neither side is willing to do that. As politicians squabble, Iraq’s most pressing problems, such as power outages, remain unresolved, Jiyad said. “They mistake the patience of the people for servitude,” he said. “I think eventually there will be protests.”

Digestion

Saudi woman sentenced to 45 years in prison for tweet, rights group says A Saudi court has sentenced Nourah bint Saeed al-Qahtani to 45 years in prison for social media posts critical of the country’s rulers, Reuters reported, citing rights group DAWN. The move comes just weeks after another Saudi woman, Salma al-Shehab, was sentenced to 34 years for posting “false and trivial rumors on Twitter”.

Background: Al-Qahtani was sentenced after Saudi Arabia’s Special Criminal Court convicted her of “using the Internet to tear down the [country’s] social web” and “violating public order using social media” under the Anti-Terrorism and Cybercrime Act, according to a court document obtained by Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN). The Saudi government’s media office did not respond to a Reuters request for comment.

Why it matters: Human rights groups have repeatedly criticized anti-terrorism and cybercrime laws for allowing the government to oppress citizens. Both laws are vague enough to give Saudi authorities maximum discretion with little to no accountability for excesses, according to DAWN. “In both the al-Shebab and al-Qahtani cases, Saudi authorities used abusive laws to target and punish Saudi citizens for criticizing the government on Twitter,” said Abdullah al-Aoudh, director of research for the region of the Gulf at DAWN.

US Navy thwarts Iranian attempt to capture US drone in Persian Gulf The US Navy prevented an Iranian ship from capturing a US maritime drone in the Persian Gulf on Monday night local time, in what a senior US commander called a “flagrant” and “unjustified” incident. Iran’s Nour News, which is affiliated with the Supreme National Security Council, said: “These types of ships… can be the source of unpredictable maritime accidents due to the possibility of disruption of navigational communications.”

Background: As U.S. forces in the region crossed international waters on Monday, they saw an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy support ship towing a U.S.-operated maritime drone, also known as the Saildrone Explorer unmanned surface vessel. said the US Naval Forces Central Command. After the Iranians attached a line to the drone, US forces contacted the Iranians directly to say they wanted the drone back. When the US responded with a ship and helicopter, the Iranian vessel disconnected the tow line from the drone and departed the area four hours later.

Why it matters: The incident comes at a critical time in relations between Iran and the US. Negotiations to revive the 2015 Iran nuclear deal are at a delicate stage, and US officials had expressed some optimism about the latest efforts. However, they have stressed that gaps remain between the two sides.

Iran says it is seeking stronger safeguards in the nuclear deal
Iran needs stronger guarantees from Washington to revive the 2015 nuclear deal, its foreign minister said in Moscow on Wednesday, adding that the UN atomic watchdog should drop “politically motivated investigations” into Tehran’s nuclear program , Reuters reported.

Background: After 16 months of indirect talks between Tehran and Washington, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on August 8 that the EU had made a final offer to break an impasse on reviving the deal. This was Hossein Amir-Abdollahian’s third trip to Moscow as Foreign Minister. The semi-official Fars news agency reported that the main focus of the visit will be the crisis in Ukraine.

Why it matters: The comment from Amir-Abdollahian came as Iran considers Washington’s response to a final text drafted by the European Union that aims to break an impasse in efforts to revive the 2015 nuclear deal.

What is the trend?

Saudi Arabia: #Orphans_of_Khamis_Mushait Video of uniformed and civilian men arresting and violently beating women in an alleged orphanage has gone viral in Saudi Arabia. The hashtag #Orphans_of_Khamis_Mushait was the top trend on Twitter in the kingdom on Wednesday, surpassing another hashtag celebrating Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s 37th birthday. Men are seen tying a woman’s legs as she struggles to free herself. CNN has not verified the authenticity of the video. The government of the southern region of Assir, where the town of Khamis Mushait is located, issued a statement saying a committee would be formed to investigate the matter “in relation to videos and photos circulated on social media showing an incident” at a social service house in Khamis Mushait.

Photo of the day

title: “What The 24 Hour Chaos In Iraq Says About Who Controls The Country Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-07” author: “Mary Schmidt”

“He sends a message to his rivals that he is a major player in the country,” Jiyad said. “It also has the ability to use force as much as any other side.” Here’s what you need to know about the chaos in Iraq: Who is Muqtada Al Sadr? Al-Sadr, 48, is a cleric from a prominent Shiite family that has the support of millions across the country.
His father, Ayatollah Muhammad Sadiq al-Sadr, was a prominent Shiite figure who spoke out against Saddam Hussein and his ruling Baath party. He was killed in 1999, in an operation believed to have been the work of Saddam’s forces or his loyalists. The younger al-Sadr then inherited his father’s popularity. Al-Sadr’s ability to reinvent his role in Iraqi politics and tap into a strong vein of Shiite protest has helped him survive and overcome many rivals over the past two decades. His latest move reinforces his position as one of the most important figures in Iraq. How is his relationship with foreign powers? Al-Sadr is best known in the US for his role in leading the Mahdi Army, which he formed in 2003 during the US invasion of Iraq to fight against US-led coalition forces. He fled to Iran during the US occupation of Iraq and returned to his country in 2011. Since then, he has become one of the fiercest critics of Tehran’s influence in Iraq and has tried to counter it. He now styles himself as an Iraqi nationalist. The cleric has good relations with Gulf Arab states such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, which see Iran as a threat to regional security. “The US and the Gulf have indirectly supported al-Sadr because of his stance against Iran, ignoring his historically strong ties to Iran and Iran’s ability to influence him,” said Marsin Alshamary, a Middle East researcher at the Kennedy School. of Harvard. Initiative. What triggered Monday’s events? Parliamentary elections in October 2021 saw Iran-backed Shiite blocs lose seats to the Sadrists. Despite his victory, al-Sadr failed to form a government amid opposition from Iranian-backed rivals. So in June, he withdrew his bloc from parliament in protest. The Iran-backed bloc then tried to form a government without his support in July, prompting Sadrists to stage demonstrations outside parliament. Al-Sadr’s announcement on Monday to retire from politics for good, however, came after the spiritual leader of his Iran-based movement, Grand Ayatollah Qadim Al-Khairi, said he would step down as a Shia religious authority and called on his followers to pledge religious allegiance to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. In addition to being Iran’s leader, Khamenei is also a Shia religious authority with followers beyond its borders.
Al-Sadr said he did not believe al-Khairi resigned of his own volition, suggesting he was pressured by Iran to do so to weaken him. The resignation was an “unprecedented move for an Ayatollah,” Alsamari said. “[Al-Haeri] he also criticized Sadr for the instability in Iraq… I think [his] The statement was released under pressure from Iran.” What’s next? Al-Sadr’s exit from politics, if sincere, could leave the remaining Shiites, many of whom are backed by Iran, to dominate the country’s politics.
“Public opinion in Iraq is strongly anti-Iranian, which means that any future elections — if they are free and fair and with decent participation, may result in new political parties representing the Iraqi way,” Alsamari said. Iraqi President Barham Salih said on Tuesday that while an end to the violence was critical to stopping the bloodshed, it did not mean the political crisis was over. He suggested holding early elections as a way out of the impasse.
Jiyad said there is not much hope for change. “If early elections are going to have a negative result, [the ruling elite] will postpone these elections and maintain the status quo,” he said. “It’s about who is willing to back down or compromise — neither side is willing to do that. As politicians squabble, Iraq’s most pressing problems, such as power outages, remain unresolved, Jiyad said. “They mistake the patience of the people for servitude,” he said. “I think eventually there will be protests.”

Digestion

Saudi woman sentenced to 45 years in prison for tweet, rights group says A Saudi court has sentenced Nourah bint Saeed al-Qahtani to 45 years in prison for social media posts critical of the country’s rulers, Reuters reported, citing rights group DAWN. The move comes just weeks after another Saudi woman, Salma al-Shehab, was sentenced to 34 years for posting “false and trivial rumors on Twitter”.

Background: Al-Qahtani was sentenced after Saudi Arabia’s Special Criminal Court convicted her of “using the Internet to tear down the [country’s] social web” and “violating public order using social media” under the Anti-Terrorism and Cybercrime Act, according to a court document obtained by Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN). The Saudi government’s media office did not respond to a Reuters request for comment.

Why it matters: Human rights groups have repeatedly criticized anti-terrorism and cybercrime laws for allowing the government to oppress citizens. Both laws are vague enough to give Saudi authorities maximum discretion with little to no accountability for excesses, according to DAWN. “In both the al-Shebab and al-Qahtani cases, Saudi authorities used abusive laws to target and punish Saudi citizens for criticizing the government on Twitter,” said Abdullah al-Aoudh, director of research for the region of the Gulf at DAWN.

US Navy thwarts Iranian attempt to capture US drone in Persian Gulf The US Navy prevented an Iranian ship from capturing a US maritime drone in the Persian Gulf on Monday night local time, in what a senior US commander called a “flagrant” and “unjustified” incident. Iran’s Nour News, which is affiliated with the Supreme National Security Council, said: “These types of ships… can be the source of unpredictable maritime accidents due to the possibility of disruption of navigational communications.”

Background: As U.S. forces in the region crossed international waters on Monday, they saw an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy support ship towing a U.S.-operated maritime drone, also known as the Saildrone Explorer unmanned surface vessel. said the US Naval Forces Central Command. After the Iranians attached a line to the drone, US forces contacted the Iranians directly to say they wanted the drone back. When the US responded with a ship and helicopter, the Iranian vessel disconnected the tow line from the drone and departed the area four hours later.

Why it matters: The incident comes at a critical time in relations between Iran and the US. Negotiations to revive the 2015 Iran nuclear deal are at a delicate stage, and US officials had expressed some optimism about the latest efforts. However, they have stressed that gaps remain between the two sides.

Iran says it is seeking stronger safeguards in the nuclear deal
Iran needs stronger guarantees from Washington to revive the 2015 nuclear deal, its foreign minister said in Moscow on Wednesday, adding that the UN atomic watchdog should drop “politically motivated investigations” into Tehran’s nuclear program , Reuters reported.

Background: After 16 months of indirect talks between Tehran and Washington, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on August 8 that the EU had made a final offer to break an impasse on reviving the deal. This was Hossein Amir-Abdollahian’s third trip to Moscow as Foreign Minister. The semi-official Fars news agency reported that the main focus of the visit will be the crisis in Ukraine.

Why it matters: The comment from Amir-Abdollahian came as Iran considers Washington’s response to a final text drafted by the European Union that aims to break an impasse in efforts to revive the 2015 nuclear deal.

What is the trend?

Saudi Arabia: #Orphans_of_Khamis_Mushait Video of uniformed and civilian men arresting and violently beating women in an alleged orphanage has gone viral in Saudi Arabia. The hashtag #Orphans_of_Khamis_Mushait was the top trend on Twitter in the kingdom on Wednesday, surpassing another hashtag celebrating Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s 37th birthday. Men are seen tying a woman’s legs as she struggles to free herself. CNN has not verified the authenticity of the video. The government of the southern region of Assir, where the town of Khamis Mushait is located, issued a statement saying a committee would be formed to investigate the matter “in relation to videos and photos circulated on social media showing an incident” at a social service house in Khamis Mushait.

Photo of the day

title: “What The 24 Hour Chaos In Iraq Says About Who Controls The Country Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-18” author: “Corey Mathews”

“He sends a message to his rivals that he is a major player in the country,” Jiyad said. “It also has the ability to use force as much as any other side.” Here’s what you need to know about the chaos in Iraq: Who is Muqtada Al Sadr? Al-Sadr, 48, is a cleric from a prominent Shiite family that has the support of millions across the country.
His father, Ayatollah Muhammad Sadiq al-Sadr, was a prominent Shiite figure who spoke out against Saddam Hussein and his ruling Baath party. He was killed in 1999, in an operation believed to have been the work of Saddam’s forces or his loyalists. The younger al-Sadr then inherited his father’s popularity. Al-Sadr’s ability to reinvent his role in Iraqi politics and tap into a strong vein of Shiite protest has helped him survive and overcome many rivals over the past two decades. His latest move reinforces his position as one of the most important figures in Iraq. How is his relationship with foreign powers? Al-Sadr is best known in the US for his role in leading the Mahdi Army, which he formed in 2003 during the US invasion of Iraq to fight against US-led coalition forces. He fled to Iran during the US occupation of Iraq and returned to his country in 2011. Since then, he has become one of the fiercest critics of Tehran’s influence in Iraq and has tried to counter it. He now styles himself as an Iraqi nationalist. The cleric has good relations with Gulf Arab states such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, which see Iran as a threat to regional security. “The US and the Gulf have indirectly supported al-Sadr because of his stance against Iran, ignoring his historically strong ties to Iran and Iran’s ability to influence him,” said Marsin Alshamary, a Middle East researcher at the Kennedy School. of Harvard. Initiative. What triggered Monday’s events? Parliamentary elections in October 2021 saw Iran-backed Shiite blocs lose seats to the Sadrists. Despite his victory, al-Sadr failed to form a government amid opposition from Iranian-backed rivals. So in June, he withdrew his bloc from parliament in protest. The Iran-backed bloc then tried to form a government without his support in July, prompting Sadrists to stage demonstrations outside parliament. Al-Sadr’s announcement on Monday to retire from politics for good, however, came after the spiritual leader of his Iran-based movement, Grand Ayatollah Qadim Al-Khairi, said he would step down as a Shia religious authority and called on his followers to pledge religious allegiance to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. In addition to being Iran’s leader, Khamenei is also a Shia religious authority with followers beyond its borders.
Al-Sadr said he did not believe al-Khairi resigned of his own volition, suggesting he was pressured by Iran to do so to weaken him. The resignation was an “unprecedented move for an Ayatollah,” Alsamari said. “[Al-Haeri] he also criticized Sadr for the instability in Iraq… I think [his] The statement was released under pressure from Iran.” What’s next? Al-Sadr’s exit from politics, if sincere, could leave the remaining Shiites, many of whom are backed by Iran, to dominate the country’s politics.
“Public opinion in Iraq is strongly anti-Iranian, which means that any future elections — if they are free and fair and with decent participation, may result in new political parties representing the Iraqi way,” Alsamari said. Iraqi President Barham Salih said on Tuesday that while an end to the violence was critical to stopping the bloodshed, it did not mean the political crisis was over. He suggested holding early elections as a way out of the impasse.
Jiyad said there is not much hope for change. “If early elections are going to have a negative result, [the ruling elite] will postpone these elections and maintain the status quo,” he said. “It’s about who is willing to back down or compromise — neither side is willing to do that. As politicians squabble, Iraq’s most pressing problems, such as power outages, remain unresolved, Jiyad said. “They mistake the patience of the people for servitude,” he said. “I think eventually there will be protests.”

Digestion

Saudi woman sentenced to 45 years in prison for tweet, rights group says A Saudi court has sentenced Nourah bint Saeed al-Qahtani to 45 years in prison for social media posts critical of the country’s rulers, Reuters reported, citing rights group DAWN. The move comes just weeks after another Saudi woman, Salma al-Shehab, was sentenced to 34 years for posting “false and trivial rumors on Twitter”.

Background: Al-Qahtani was sentenced after Saudi Arabia’s Special Criminal Court convicted her of “using the Internet to tear down the [country’s] social web” and “violating public order using social media” under the Anti-Terrorism and Cybercrime Act, according to a court document obtained by Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN). The Saudi government’s media office did not respond to a Reuters request for comment.

Why it matters: Human rights groups have repeatedly criticized anti-terrorism and cybercrime laws for allowing the government to oppress citizens. Both laws are vague enough to give Saudi authorities maximum discretion with little to no accountability for excesses, according to DAWN. “In both the al-Shebab and al-Qahtani cases, Saudi authorities used abusive laws to target and punish Saudi citizens for criticizing the government on Twitter,” said Abdullah al-Aoudh, director of research for the region of the Gulf at DAWN.

US Navy thwarts Iranian attempt to capture US drone in Persian Gulf The US Navy prevented an Iranian ship from capturing a US maritime drone in the Persian Gulf on Monday night local time, in what a senior US commander called a “flagrant” and “unjustified” incident. Iran’s Nour News, which is affiliated with the Supreme National Security Council, said: “These types of ships… can be the source of unpredictable maritime accidents due to the possibility of disruption of navigational communications.”

Background: As U.S. forces in the region crossed international waters on Monday, they saw an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy support ship towing a U.S.-operated maritime drone, also known as the Saildrone Explorer unmanned surface vessel. said the US Naval Forces Central Command. After the Iranians attached a line to the drone, US forces contacted the Iranians directly to say they wanted the drone back. When the US responded with a ship and helicopter, the Iranian vessel disconnected the tow line from the drone and departed the area four hours later.

Why it matters: The incident comes at a critical time in relations between Iran and the US. Negotiations to revive the 2015 Iran nuclear deal are at a delicate stage, and US officials had expressed some optimism about the latest efforts. However, they have stressed that gaps remain between the two sides.

Iran says it is seeking stronger safeguards in the nuclear deal
Iran needs stronger guarantees from Washington to revive the 2015 nuclear deal, its foreign minister said in Moscow on Wednesday, adding that the UN atomic watchdog should drop “politically motivated investigations” into Tehran’s nuclear program , Reuters reported.

Background: After 16 months of indirect talks between Tehran and Washington, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on August 8 that the EU had made a final offer to break an impasse on reviving the deal. This was Hossein Amir-Abdollahian’s third trip to Moscow as Foreign Minister. The semi-official Fars news agency reported that the main focus of the visit will be the crisis in Ukraine.

Why it matters: The comment from Amir-Abdollahian came as Iran considers Washington’s response to a final text drafted by the European Union that aims to break an impasse in efforts to revive the 2015 nuclear deal.

What is the trend?

Saudi Arabia: #Orphans_of_Khamis_Mushait Video of uniformed and civilian men arresting and violently beating women in an alleged orphanage has gone viral in Saudi Arabia. The hashtag #Orphans_of_Khamis_Mushait was the top trend on Twitter in the kingdom on Wednesday, surpassing another hashtag celebrating Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s 37th birthday. Men are seen tying a woman’s legs as she struggles to free herself. CNN has not verified the authenticity of the video. The government of the southern region of Assir, where the town of Khamis Mushait is located, issued a statement saying a committee would be formed to investigate the matter “in relation to videos and photos circulated on social media showing an incident” at a social service house in Khamis Mushait.

Photo of the day