Leaked recordings attributed to ex-Iraqi PM spark tensions among Sadr loyalists

A series of leaked recordings attributed to Nouri al-Maliki in which he allegedly insults influential Shia cleric Moqtada al-Sadr and the Iraqi Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) have triggered tensions and calls for a prove into the alleged leakage.  

The recordings come at a time when the Iraqi political process has reached a critical stage, as al-Maliki’s pro-Iran Shia groups are trying to name a PM and elect a president by the end of this month. 

Ali Fadel, an Iraqi journalist residing in the US, has in the past week released three episodes of the recordings on Twitter, and on late Saturday posted the fourth part.  

“The issue is that there is a British project aiming to put Moqtada in control of the Shia and Iraq, then they would kill him and give Iraq to the Sunnis (…) That project exists, but I am fighting it, and it is to be fought politically and militarily,” said Maliki in the first leak. 

“Moqtada is a murderer, how many did he kill in Baghdad? The kidnappings, the car bombs, he is not a master, he is a coward, a traitor, an ignorant who knows nothing.”  

pic.twitter.com/5Q0V7VhqXG

— Nouri Al-Maliki (@nourialmalikiiq) July 13, 2022

Maliki in a statement last week denied the accusations and said that the recording was “fabricated” in order to create “chaos” among Iraqi Shias.  

A well-informed source from the Iraqi ruling elites and pro-Iran Shia groups told The New Arab on condition of anonymity that “the recordings are authentic and they are by Maliki.”  

On his part, Sadr urged his followers, who gathered for a congressional Friday prayer in Baghdad to ignore the recordings, noting they mean nothing to them.     

“The next stage is fighting (...) all to defend themselves, Sadr wants to kill and slaughter, I trust neither the Iraqi army nor police, and I told the Iraqi PM, Mustafa al-Kadhimi that I have no trust in his army and police. I don't trust the PMF either, they are now a heap of cowards.” said Maliki in the fourth recording.

“We need weapons. I protect myself, if others could not, I can protect myself. I am working to arm 10 to 15 groups to be ready for the battle, and the critical stage. Who knows, I may attack Najaf, if Sadr attacked people or the Shia Marjaeya, because this man [ Sadr] is vengeful, and wants blood although he is a coward, he wants money and he has stolen the country.”  

الجزء الرابع من التسجيل المُسرب لنوري المالكي
المالكي : المرحلة القادمة هي مرحلة قتال و سأهجم على ( النجف ) من اجل قتال مقتدى الصدر .
المالكي : ابلغت الكاظمي اني لا اثق لا بجيشك و لا بشرطتك وانما انا سأقوم بتسليح نفسي وأُقاتل ولدينا دبابات و مدرعات و مُسيرات .#شارك_المقطع pic.twitter.com/YNfhDbi4FZ

— Ali Fadhil _ علي فاضل (@ali_alifadhil) July 16, 2022

He also allegedly said that Iraq is on the verge of a devastating civil war, unless “we can destroy” the political views of Sadr, Iraqi parliament speaker Mohammed al-Halbusi and Masaud Barzani, the leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP).  

According to video clips posted on Twitter, angry PMF loyalists have so far torched  and closed several headquarters of Maliki’s Islamic Dawa Party in the capital city of Baghdad and other provinces. 

Al-Maliki became prime minister of Iraq in 2006, and in a bid to try to disarm the Mahdi Army, a Shia militia loyal to Sadr, launched an operation against them in 2007 and 2008. Eventually, Sadr asked his militiamen to lay down their arms.  

“The Iraqi judiciary and the general prosecution should open a wide investigation into the leaked recordings, summon Maliki- if they can- and form a technical committee to inspect the audio recordings,” Ahmed Haqi, member of the Iraqi Civil Movement has told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, The New Arab's Arabic-language sister outlet.

“Although all know that the recordings are authentic [by Maliki], the judiciary should not play the role of the spectator, since the issue includes threats to the country’s security and urging to violence and fighting.” 

Sadr won most seats in the election and formed a triple alliance with the Iraqi Sunni political blocs and the (KDP), vowing to form a "national majority" government and signalling against pro-Iran Shia blocs. But frustrated in his efforts to fulfil his promise to his supporters, Sadr ordered lawmakers from his bloc to resign, in which all his 73 MPs did so on 12 June. 

Halbusi has called on the heads of the parliamentary blocs to attend a session on Monday without indicating the agenda of the meeting.

However, the Coordination Framework, a parliamentary faction consisting of all pro-Iran Shia blocs currently holding the majority, has announced that it will soon elect a candidate for the post of Iraq’s PM and that the parliament is expected to elect a president before the end of this month.