Baghdad, Iraq- Qais al-Khazali Discusses Iraq’s Political Landscape and PMF’s Role in Upcoming Elections Qais al-Khazali, Secretary-General of Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq, stated that the Zionist forces failed to meet their objectives in the Gaza conflict. He clarified that the factions’ weapons have not been involved in internal conflicts and have not caused issues for the state. He also announced that the Coordination Framework will enter the upcoming elections with multiple lists.
In a discussion on the “Under the Lines” program, Sheikh al-Khazali spoke about the significant role of religious authority, particularly Sayyid al-Sistani, in guiding the drafting of the constitution and in issuing fatwas for jihad and defense. He also pointed out that Zionist media has been increasingly focusing on sectarian terms like Shiite and Sunni.
The Secretary-General explained that the Shiite identity has always been tied to supporting and helping the oppressed, emphasizing that the Zionist enemy has failed to achieve its strategic goals in the ongoing war. He reaffirmed Iraq’s support for the just cause of the Palestinian people.
Al-Khazali also discussed Turkey’s involvement in Syria, stating that it led a military-driven project of change. He stressed the importance of making decisions based on Iraq’s best interests and made it clear that the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) do not need to be dissolved.
He reiterated that the factions’ weapons have been strictly used for protecting Iraq’s sovereignty and not for internal conflicts, rejecting calls to disarm them as an attempt to deprive Iraq of its reserve military capabilities. Furthermore, he pointed to continuing Turkish violations of Iraqi sovereignty.
He also noted that the law governing the service and retirement of PMF members should apply equally to all. Lastly, he praised the government of Prime Minister Al-Sudani for its efforts in restoring the trust of the Iraqi people in the political process and confirmed that the Coordination Framework would participate in the upcoming elections with multiple lists, not a single unified list.
