Iraq’s new prime minister, Ali al-Zaidi, is leading a charge against corruption. Thus, over the past several days, Iraqi security forces have been detaining politicians and officials and uncovering masses of cash and other evidence of corruption. In one case, a stable of horses was discovered.
Reports indicate that some $15 million in cash was found at the home of one Iraqi member of parliament, Alia Nassif. Her son had also worked with former Iraqi prime minister Mohammed al-Sudani.
The arrests span the political spectrum. Although some assumed that they were targeting Iranian-backed officials in Baghdad, part of a push by the US to rein in Iranian-backed militias, the reality is that the arrests have targeted Sunni and Shi’ite politicians.
This appears to be about corruption. With the raids, the new prime minister will be able to say he is in charge, and he can then move on to confront greater challenges, such as the Iranian-backed militias.
Operation 'Dawn Crackdown'
In one incident, Shafaq News in Iraq noted that “Iraqi security forces caught $4 million inside a vehicle at a checkpoint between Saladin and Diyala on Tuesday,” according to a security source.
The origins of the cash are now being investigated. Government spokesperson Haider al-Aboudi spoke on Monday about the arrest warrants that had led to the detention of 21 suspects in Operation Dawn Crackdown. Another source told Shafaq News that “the number of those arrested during the operation reached 67.”
The campaign against corruption appears popular in Iraq. Iraqis see Zaidi as potentially becoming a strong prime minister. This comes after years in which the prime minister was weak and failed to control the country.
At the heart of this failure was the fact that Iranian-backed militias carried out attacks whenever they wanted, including targeting the Kurdish autonomous region, kidnapping a journalist and researcher, and murdering a prominent Iraqi intellectual. They targeted US diplomatic personnel in Baghdad.
Iraq’s state news agency has named some of those arrested. It notes that “Muthanna al-Samarrai, head of the al-Azm Alliance and a member of parliament.
The list also included sitting lawmakers Ziyad al-Janabi, Bahaa al-Nouri, Mohammed al-Karbouli, Aliya Nasif, Mohammed Jamil al-Mayahi, Hassan al-Khafaji, Abdul Rahman al-Luwaizi, Mudhar al-Karaawi, Hind al-Abbasi, Mohammed Furman al-Jubouri, and Bushra al-Qaisi,” as among the detainees.
Shafaq also reported that officials named were “former lawmaker Mohammed al-Sayhoud, Oil Ministry Undersecretary for Distribution Affairs Ali Maarij, and former government adviser Ibrahim al-Sumaidaie.” Those arrested include “civil servants, directors general, politicians, and businessmen.”
Arrests have now spread across the country
The arrests began in the Green Zone in Baghdad where many politicians have residences, and they have now fanned out across the country.
Shafaq described the first night of the raids: “The Special Division detained more than eight people at dawn, among them members of parliament, on judicial warrants tied to financial and administrative corruption, the same source said, adding that a CTS unit pushed into the al-Shaab district north of the capital to carry out similar warrants.”
Iraq has used elite counter-terrorism forces to execute the initial raids. This shows how important those being arrested are, and the concern is that they may pose a threat to normal police, or perhaps bribe their way to being able to flee.
The forces have found masses of cash and gold hidden in homes. They also discovered all sorts of luxury items, including a stable full of horses. In a country such as Iraq, where poverty is common, this is seen as obvious evidence of corruption.
Stockpiling millions of dollars in cash – and also horses – is seen as something that would violate the law in some way. It will take time for Iraq to investigate and put those who are corrupt on trial. It’s not clear that the government will succeed in the prosecutions. Nevertheless, it is a first step.