The call of the Sadrist movement to its masses and supporters for peaceful demonstration in Tahrir Square in the centre of Iraqi capital (Baghdad) comes within the previous orientations and declared objectives , and prepared methods and ideas dealt with it by the leadership of the Sadrist movement, and became one of the features of mass crowd, and the relationship that links the political leaders of the Sadrist movement with its popular bases , which reflects the reality of the political vision adopted by the movement in addressing the political , economic and security situations which Iraq is going through and the nature of popular interaction with the decisions and orientations issued by the Iraqi government, which are discussed within the framework of the tactical situation of political blocs on their different opinions, thoughts and beliefs.
The call process for demonstrations is a constant manner characterized by the Sadrist movement, which has the ability to direct citizens to gather in important and sensitive places in the city of Baghdad, and other centers of provinces, the event can not be carried out by any of the political movements and parties existed in the Iraqi arena, which emerged after the US invasion of Iraq in 2003.
The privilege characterized by the Sadrist movement is its ability to guide its bases for peaceful demonstrations, and sometimes confronting the security forces responsible for the protection of the demonstrations which is an indication to the nature of the relationship that links the leadership of the movement to its supporters.
From here we can read well what happened yesterday in Tahrir Square, where the large gathering of supporters of the Sadrist movement, and their response to the call sent to them from the official of the Sadrist movement, and its field leaders within the following criteria:
1. al-Sadr wanted after his return from his recent visit to the Saudi capital (Riyadh) , which has received great attention from the Saudi leadership represented a meeting of al-Sadr with the crown prince of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the nature of the opinions and discussions tackled by parties during the meeting , to prove to all those who criticized his visit and meetings from most of the political blocks and parties and leading bodies of Shiite movements inside and outside Iraq that he is still very popular in the Iraqi political and social milieu , and all what he has done is in response to the pulse of the Iraqi street and aspirations of openness; and building positive relations with Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia.
2. The presence of al-Sadr and his leaders in Tahrir Square, and talking directly to his supporters and bases, is a message to respond to what some religious and political circles have been saying about Muqtada al—Sadr’s exposure to the process of political assassination in response and punishment for his visit to Saudi Arabia and his meetings with officials there.
3. The insistence of the Sadrist movement on the face of all the proposals for electoral commission and how to elect its members and disclose the illegal goals of large political blocs seeking to undermine the electoral process and the control of the parliamentary seats and the conduct of the work of the Iraqi parliament in the next elections according to their desires, goals and own interests.
4. Sadr’s call that the political demonstrations to be at the level of suffering of the Iraqi people, it is an invitation to address the proposals and ideas advocated by a group ( the state of law Coalition ), led by Nuri al-Maliki and members of his parliamentary bloc affiliated to the National Alliance , the Sadrist movement is part of it, so he puts things in the right position , and fueling the state of real confrontation with the political movements seeking to take control on the political decision in Iraq adding that the government is the sole entity assigned to maintain security and possess arms. .
5- the call to contain members of the popular crowd and fighters within the military and security institutions of the state and put the arms in the hands of State, confirms on the ground the end the role of the popular crowd and armed militias and to maintain internal security and support the security institutions ; to take a real role in dealing with the security situation in Iraq away from practices by some armed militias associated with Iranian intelligence services and circles, which contribute to undermining the security situation in Iraq.
6. Address the status of the Electoral Commission and its work and naming its members and how to lead the next election by mid-2018 and directing them, and bring them under the supervision and sponsorship of the United Nations and its working organizations to maintain the integrity of the elections and prevent the fraud experienced by the elections most recently in 2014, revealed by sorting boxes after the vote of the Iraqi people.
7. work seriously and clearly to guide the Government of Abadi, which won the support of the Sadrist movement and specifically in this speech, to carry out its accurate field functions to the strengthening of the work of security forces and make them responsible for the security files in the provinces that got rid of Daesh fighters and their leaders and move away any military destination of keeping the land , it is a clear and explicit indication for the armed militias and uncontrolled and undisciplined elements as the Sadrist movement call them .
8. To speed up the development of programs and field development plans and the rebuilding of cities and provinces and rehabilitation them, which had been damaged by military operations with fighters Daesh and work quickly to return the displaced to their areas, to engage in their business, and decent living with their families.
Will the Sadrist movement and its leaders and supporters be able of continuing of confrontation and the implementation of their slogans, and the actual impact on the three presidential bodies in Iraq to determine the future of Iraq?
Will the Sadrist movement start to hand over arms of (Saraya al-Salam) to the state in a field courageous initiative that to motivate others and encourages the Government to implement the resolutions relating to put arms in the hands of the state?
That’s what we’ll see in the coming days!
The Iraqi Studies Unit
Rawabet Center for Research and Strategic Studies