Ayatollah Sistani Calls for Trial of Iraqi Officials Accused of Corruption

Ayatollah Ali Sistani, the top Shia cleric in Iraq, called for the trial of senior officials "accused of involvement in corruption" in the country and the "recovery of stolen assets" during his Friday prayer sermon on September 13. Previously, Ayatollah Sistani had supported the recent reform plans of Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi but had also urged him to take a firmer stance against corruption and mismanagement. As part of Mr. Abadi's reform program, which was approved by the Iraqi parliament, several high-level government positions that were divided based on sectarian quotas were abolished. He also called for the resumption of corruption investigations, leading to the formation of dozens of legal cases. The Prime Minister was also given the authority to dismiss governors and mayors. However, critics of this program argue that the new measures are unconstitutional and do not improve the lives of Iraqi citizens. Mr. Abadi's reforms emerged after widespread protests in central and southern Iraq demanding better services and a fight against corruption, sparked by prolonged electricity outages in the summer heat. According to the Aswat al-Iraq news agency, in the Friday sermon delivered by his assistant Ahmad al-Safi in Karbala, Ayatollah Sistani stated: "High-ranking officials and corrupt individuals who have dominated the wealth of the Iraqi people for over a decade must be prosecuted and held accountable, and the stolen assets of Iraq must be returned to the people." He also addressed the "Integrity Commission" responsible for combating corruption and the judiciary, saying: "There are numerous questions about the ability of the Integrity Commission and the judiciary to bear responsibility and carry out their mission without further delays and procrastination." Iraqi protesters have recently called for the dismissal of Medhat al-Mahmoud, the head of the Supreme Judicial Council of Iraq and the country's judicial system. Ayatollah Sistani also called for economic reforms in Iraq. It is expected that the Iraqi government's budget deficit this year will exceed ten percent due to declining oil revenues and increasing military expenses, especially as the country is engaged in a battle against the Islamic State (ISIS) militants who have seized vast areas in the north. According to Ayatollah Sistani, "the weakness of economic planning and the lack of a comprehensive strategy to provide national resources other than oil is one of the faces of corruption."