Abadi’s office files compliant against court ruling on Falih Fayyadh’s case

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The Iraqi General Secretariat for the Council of Ministers says the Administrative Court cannot repeal outgoing Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi’s decision against the head of the Hashd al-Shaabi Committee.

On Monday, the Iraqi Administrative Court revoked Abadi’s decision to remove Falih Fayyadh of his duties as the national security advisor, head of the Hashd al-Shaabi Committee, and the National Security Apparatus.

However, according to a statement on its website, the General Secretariat for the Council of Ministers said the Court’s ruling on Fayyadh’s case does not annul the prime minister’s decision to remove him from his three positions.

“The Administrative Court has only suspended Abadi’s decision,” it added.

“Fayyadh’s removal from the position did not result in any security vacuum because security specialists filled the positions based on the powers vested in the Prime Minister according to Article 78 of the constitution.”

In his weekly press briefing on Tuesday, Abadi said his office had filed a complaint against the Administrative Court’s ruling. He added, though, that he respects the court’s decisions.

In August 2018, Abadi, in decree number 286, ordered to relieve Fayyadh of his duties.

The order claimed Fayyadh’s involvement in politics “conflicts with the sensitive security tasks” he undertook, adding that “as per the Iraqi Constitution, neutrality must be exercised by individuals within the security and intelligence services.”

The decree also cited that the Hashd al-Shaabi’s regulations, instructions, and the state’s directives “prohibit the exploitation of sensitive security posts in partisan activities.”

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany