Al-Sadr’s latest messages: a final warning to the political system and a warning of a dangerous predicament.
A source close to the leader of the Shiite National Movement, Muqtada al-Sadr, revealed on Tuesday the messages al-Sadr intended to convey in his final tweet on Monday.
Yesterday, al-Sadr responded to the threats recently circulated about a plot to assassinate him, saying: “Such leaks will not cause strife. We love our country and do not want it to be harmed. No one will respond to your strife. We are counting on the awareness and obedience of the (National Shiite Movement), as we have always known them.”
He added in a post on his personal account: “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.”
Regarding these messages, a source close to al-Sadr told Shafaq News Agency, “Sadr’s latest tweet is not just a passing position, but a strategic message carrying an early warning to the entire political system. Al-Sadr wanted to emphasize that despite withdrawing from the elections, he still holds the reins of the popular and political initiative.”
According to the source, who requested anonymity, “Al-Sadr also wanted to convey a message that any attempt to marginalize his movement would lead the country into a dangerous impasse. The core of the message was to reject the replication of consensus and quota systems, and to call for a national majority government or an effective opposition, which represents a serious reform option.”
According to him, “The future of the political and public landscape in Iraq depends on the response of other forces: either they side with reform and avoid chaos, or they face pressure from the Sadrist street, which remains the most important card in the Iraqi equation.”
The roots of this escalation go back to “opposition” activist Ali Fadel, who stated during a social media program that he possessed information about State of Law Coalition MP Yasser Sakhil’s intention 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