Kurds reconsider their participation in Iraq
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – The Kurdistan Region representatives in the Iraqi parliament say that they will reject any agendas imposed on them against their will.
The Kurdish blocs in the Iraqi parliament released a statement on Sunday condemning the storming of parliament by protesters, stating that “such acts show that there is a party with a personal agenda behind it.”
The statement added that the Kurdish blocs “are against the imposition of any political agendas by any party,” noting that yesterday's events “are a heavy blow to the political process in Iraq.”
The statement pointed out that civilians were used as a tool to achieve political goals. “We will have another position after yesterday’s events…we should reconsider our participation in the political process of Iraq,” the statement read.
Elsewhere, the Parliament Deputy Speaker Aram Muhammed held a press conference with four Kurdish MPs returning to the Kurdistan Region from Baghdad on Sunday.
“We will not accept anyone who tries to impose their will on us and make decisions instead of us or elects representatives for us,” Muhammed said.
In a broadcasted speech, Salim al-Jibouri, the Iraqi Parliament Speaker, held Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi responsible for the attack and storming of the parliament building by protesters.
The Organizing Committee of Protesters in Baghdad released a statement on Sunday announcing the withdrawal of protesters inside the Green Zone.
“The cabinet should be voted on in one session, and if this is not achieved, we will move to the second stage which is the request for the three presidencies to resign,” the Committee declared.
“If these demands are rejected as well, the third stage is a call for early elections,” the statement continued.
“If our requests are not met, the people will take all legitimate means to storm the building of the three presidencies, declaring civil disobedience and general strike,” the statement added.
On Saturday, hundreds of protesters affiliated with the Shia Cleric Muqtada al-Sadr breached Baghdad’s fortified Green Zone and stormed the Iraqi parliament building. Later, the protesters advanced towards the General Secretariat for Council of Minister and stormed the building.
Moments before the protesters breached the security checkpoints of the Green Zone, Sadr asked the group to continue what he called a “peaceful revolution” and stated that “the corrupt people continue to build barriers before making reforms in the country.”
Reporting by Baxtiyar Goran
Editing by Karzan Sulaivany