Iraq's prime minister seeks parliamentary backing to monopolise weapons under the state

Monopolising weapons by the state in Iraq has entered a more sensitive phase, with Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi preparing a parliamentary bill restricting weapons to official institutions.

The move is an attempt to shift the issue from an executive decision for which the government alone bears responsibility to a legislative process backed and supported by parliament.

It would also give the state broader legal cover in confronting factional weapons. This reflects the complexities facing the issue, as al-Zaidi stressed that uncontrolled weapons pose "the greatest threat" to the state because they undermine the authority of the law and weaken the standing of security institutions.

Al-Zaidi held a meeting with the parliamentary security committee on Tuesday evening, 11 August, attended by its chairman, Khaled Meteb al-Obaidi, and members of the committee, according to a statement issued by al-Zaidi's office.

"The meeting reviewed the situation in the country and the efforts being made by the security services in their various branches and formations to impose security and stability and protect the country's borders and airspace against various threats, particularly in light of the events and repercussions taking place in the region," it said. 

It said al-Zaidi "directed the preparation of a bill to restrict weapons to the hands of the state, in accordance with constitutional procedures".

"The greatest threat to the state is uncontrolled weapons, as they undermine the authority of the law and weaken the standing of security institutions," al-Zaidi said at the meeting.

"The importance of strengthening the position of the state through its sovereignty, standing and constitutional institutions and enhancing the capabilities of the military institution to ensure internal stability linked to economic, political and security stability in a way that safeguards the security and safety of Iraq and the resources of its people," he reportedly stressed. 

In this context, al-Zaidi called for "integrated work and coordination between the executive and legislative authorities to enhance stability, enact laws and provide legislative cover for government development plans and programmes", stressing "the importance of holding regular meetings with the parliamentary security and defence committee to complete these issues".

Parliamentary backing

An informed government source, who requested anonymity, told The New Arab, "Al-Zaidi's move towards a law to restrict weapons aims to legislate the issue and give it legal and political cover and to secure parliamentary support, preventing the issue from remaining solely in the hands of the government and ensuring it is not left alone to confront factions that reject the decision".

"The government is currently facing major complications over the issue, given the factions' overlap with political systems and external links, as well as the influence and political representation they enjoy," he explained.

"Passing a parliamentary law would make the issue of restricting weapons a legislative obligation binding on state institutions rather than merely a government programme open to political disputes," the government source added. "It would also allow the government to rely on a legal provision when making decisions towards factions that refuse to cooperate on the issue."

This point appears to be particularly important for al-Zaidi, as any confrontation with the factions could entail major security risks.

Meanwhile, the existence of a law enacted by parliament would give al-Zaidi a significant opportunity to move forward with the issue, because the government would be implementing a constitutional and legislative mandate issued by the Iraqi state rather than a personal decision by al-Zaidi.

But, passing the law will not be straightforward.

Parliament itself reflects political balances, while factions and forces linked to them have significant parliamentary influence, making it difficult to pass legislation restricting weapons.

For his part, parliamentary security committee member MP Sherwan al-Doberdani affirmed his committee's support for al-Zaidi's directives to restrict weapons to the hands of the state.

Doberdani, who attended the meeting, said that "the committee expressed its readiness to cooperate on the issue of restricting weapons, as sovereignty and the law must belong to the state".

He warned in a press statement that "after Sept. 30—the deadline set by the government to end the issue of weapons outside the framework of the state—factions have to choose either the state or the non-state” . 

The above developments comes at a highly sensitive time, as debate grows inside Iraq over the future of armed factions.

In this context, Ismail Qaani's visit to Baghdad two days ago, as commander of the Quds Force of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, takes on particular significance.

This is especially the case given the series of separate meetings he held with several leaders of the Coordination Framework and Iraqi armed faction commanders during an unannounced visit.

These meetings appear to be influential in the course of the issue, which topped Qaani's discussions, particularly as the end of September approaches.

It is a deadline that has raised growing concerns that the Iraqi government could resort to tougher options, potentially including the use of force to impose its decision on armed factions.

Article translated from Arabic by Afrah Almatwari. To read the original, click here.