Text of Sayyid Ammar al-Hakim political speech at Eid al-Fitr sermon 1440 AH, 5-6-2019
In The Name of Allah The Most Merciful The Most Gracious
Believers ...
Last year, on this blessed day, we called for the need to expedite forming government. At that time, we emphasized that our main problem is not in diagnosing the situation, but the problem was making solutions and taking bold and decisive decisions in reform and remedies.
And today, after more than seven months, we still see a clear reluctance in completing government formation, some ministries are without a minister, other ministries require ministerial reshuffle, and sensitive and important posts still administered by proxy!
We offered - along with numerous political powers- adequate support to the government and waived our political and electoral entitlement so the government would take its full opportunity to fulfill its agreement and promise with the people before the House of Representatives to end public chaos, weapons spread, dismantling of the deep state, not-allowing sub-states outside the state. And to prioritize the citizen, downsizing state institutions, modernizing essential laws, fighting corruption, activating the wheel of investment, providing essential services for citizens and other core issues mentioned in the program of the government.
We hope that the government will allow its people to know what has been achieved and what has not been achieved and the reasons for not achieving it. In light of this, we will define our future choices. The option of the national political opposition is still in place, but was put on hold to give more time for evaluation and review.
And as we ask the government and reproach it demanding to be open with the people, we ask the House of Representatives about the achievements during the two legislative sessions (in respect of supervision and legislative role and regularity of work and committees) and we hope frankness and informing the people, the House of Representatives is supposed to be the house of the people and its legitimate representative.
The political default that we see today suggests that there is a real problem in the nature of ongoing political interactions, and also indicates the existence of a major imbalance in the procedures of service processing in the performance of government .. Especially that we are approaching a blazing summer, and still indicators of improvement to electricity power are below the required level.
Indeed, there are greater challenges .. There are complex circumstances, but this political default will increase the conditions of complexity and challenges .. And will produce for us crises after another .. Especially as our service and economic reality and the fighting against corruption dossier.. Still suffer and move slowly .. then we will remain within the ceiling of challenges and compound political complexities atmosphere.
If the default was due to failure of the House of Representatives or some political parties, we call upon the Prime Minister to reveal the facts to the people, and expose the failing sides, although sides forming the government issued continuing their authorizing to the head of government to run the government dossier.
That the policy of "throwing the ball in the court of the other" is useless in light of what we are going through and serious challenges .. The logic of political justification is no longer convincing to our people .. who expressed discontent and rejection to the outcome of the political process in a clear and unequivocally manner.
Sons of Shahid al-Mihrab, Aziz of Iraq..sons of the Al-Hikma and the al-Hakim
In light of these critical and serious circumstances that our beloved country is going through, it is necessary that we all carryout the national duties and bear the historical responsibility towards the people and the nation. Al-Hikma members, if they do not abide by what we say, they will not be truly associated with this national project, the essence of being associated with the Al-Hikma is to serve and help people in all issues, challenges and needs. And I remind you of my previous words: "A people we do not serve, we do not deserve to represent, and the closest to my heart, are those who are optimally in the service of your people. Therefore, all members have to serve the people and tirelessly seeks meeting their needs.
From this blessed podium, I announce forming the (Service Councils) in Al-Hikma headquarters in all Iraqi provinces. These councils are sites to follow up on citizens’ issues and hard work to address and mitigate them using our resources, relations and social, political and government influence. The legitimate and administrative representatives of the Al-Hikma will carry out following up on the citizens’ issues, And I openly and starkly state that any official associated to Al-Hikma and at any level, if did not serve people and did not interact with citizens' grievances reported to the Service Councils, there will have no place in the AL-Hikma. There is no good in any job title, no matter how important it is, if it does not lead to the service of people and no good in relevancies if not engaged to serve our people.
I announce today the launch of "service initiatives" in every place where the sons of wisdom and we call upon all Executive Secretaries and Leaders of Al-Hikma to be strong and determent when providing service initiatives to people and become a living proof to the words of the Prophet (PBUH) "All are creatures are children of God, and most loved ones to God are those who provide to the children of God "
Witnessing that there is no location in Iraq empty of Al-Hikma sons impact in service, is a great honor, when we serve our families and people.
We feel pride and appreciation when the national approach is strengthened, and expresses the interest of Iraq, breaking sectarian, ethnic and regional barriers, extending our organizations to all provinces and regions, and today we find sons and daughters of Al-Hikma representing the Iraqi bouquet of roses with all its beautiful colors.
Beloved ones,
There are a number of sensitive issues of society security that threaten what was achieves on security, political and social levels that we should review and address:
1- The recent security situation witnessed in Kirkuk, Diyala and the belt of Baghdad and a number of other cities, they reveal real challenges threatening our national unity and expose the community peace to danger, which requires an urgent meeting of political sides and concerned leaders to identify the causes and address these issues with decisive measures away from courtesies and political deals.
We noted previously, and reiterate today, that military victory is not enough by its own, if not achieving a sustainable security and a service, political, cultural, social and economic victory.
The real victory is the integrated victory not partial, our issues are intertwined, and the spirit of solution should be inclusive and not selective. Favoring the homeland, should be the title that we unite and work by.
2- Chaos and possession of weapons among people requires making a political and social agreement signed by all political and tribal forces to abide to limit possession of weapon to the state and not put themselves in the position of power and law, and not to abuse freedom of speech to commit transgressions against prestige of the state. The state should bear its clear constitutional responsibilities in this matter and make the required firm and decisive practical actions.
3- Start creating a comprehensive national program to combat social scourges such as suicide, drugs, high divorce rates and atheism, this program would be jointly formulated and implemented by governmental, religious, cultural, media, academic and other institutions.
4- Reform the administrative system through engineering decentralization system in Iraq by making the required amendments to the provincial councils’ law, give more powers to smaller administrative units and reduce administrative burden of ministries. And forming the Executive Council of the provinces under the chairmanship of the Council of Ministers, and help the provinces to approve their projects and spend allocated premises and other aspects, depending on a new vision and philosophy consistent with the essence of the Iraqi constitution and the new system.
5- Activating constitutional articles in organizing relations between Kurdistan Region and the federal government and fair and constitutional handling of oil dossier and disputed areas and other unsettled issues with considerations to ensure rights of the center and the region and not to neglect this serious matter as it bears implications that might result in incalculable bursts and threat the stability and unity of the homeland.
6- Expedite passing provincial elections law after amendment, which contributes to the cohesion of political powers, helps to form broad alliances, preserve candidate's electoral entitlement and fulfills the principle of fairness in distribution and selection. We will not be able see a real change without a fair and responsible electoral law that guarantees the integrity and fairness of the elections. There is no legitimacy for a political system without a solid electoral system.
7- Combating corruption dossier still unclear regarding practical outputs at the very least, as we hear about the measures and intentions of accountability and disclosure, but unfortunately has not yet seen decisiveness in the corruption fight and punishment.
Fighting against corruption is a national priority that cannot be tolerated. We will be unable to see a real development for the country's economy without making the corrupt accountable. Terrorism and extremism will not be eradicated without accountability of corrupt people. Security, peace and social justice will not be achieved without accountability of corrupt people.
Corruption is the root of every evil in our effort and our political scene. It must be confronted and combated by actions before words and slogans.
We urge to prosecute thieves of law and put them in behind bars and start to hunting whales of corruption, and forming the Supreme Council to Fight Against Corruption is an important step, but not enough if not leading to take real action.
We previously noted that Iraq is at the heart of the US-Iranian conflict, because of Iraq’s geopolitical and influential position and historical heritage, which requires Iraq to play a leading role in facing the crises that plague the region, and here I would like to point out a number of aspects:
First: Stemming from an independent national policy, based on supreme interests of Iraq. Iraq is the master of itself. It cannot be under the shadow of subsequent or directed positions. We have our own national interests and security, as others have their own national interests and security, yet they do not necessarily have to intersect, but can be mutual and intertwined as long the goal is maintaining stability of the region and keeping its security and the safety of its peoples.
It is not possible to continue with the policy of war, conflict and struggle in our region. We have suffered a great deal and have paid dearly for the long wars, the abhorrent economic sanction, and the policy of conquering and occupation, and lastly the disaster of funded and organized terrorism and extremism that targeted our safe villages and cities, we are in a war of various types that has been going on for 50 years.
It is time to process the future based on our experience that we faced, and to be aware of our external surroundings and make peace with its historic complexities, looking forward to the awaiting opportunities before us, that can be well attained in case we prioritize the interest of Iraq and overcome the complex of disagreement and conflict.
We clearly state that we are not neutral towards the policies of siege and starvation, which the Iranian Muslim and brotherly people are subjected to over a deplored unilateral decision, we in Iraq know more than any other country what does sanctions against nations means after the bitterness that our people endured during the 1990s.
Second: Unify the compass of the Iraqi internal decision according to the national standards of the state, the external and internal challenges cannot be faced with different diagnosis and remedies among the political class.
Therefore, it is important to support any political effort that works to strengthen the state apparatus, preserve its prestige and enhance the independence of its national decision, and not to allow any irresponsible or uncontrolled actions in the local arena out of this context. Unifying internal structure, is a national priority, and a perquisite to the success of the moderate external policy of Iraq. Here, we would like to express our appreciation and support for the efforts of His Excellency President Dr. Barham Saleh, performing a national effort to unify and crystallize a comprehensive national vision among the political powers, we have great hopes that officials will respond and prioritize the supreme interest of the homeland.
Third: Continuing international openness and consolidating mutual commonalities and interests. The political achievement at the regional and international level must be preserved through openness and communication with all, and be warned of being dragged into unwise policies that might expose Iraq to international isolation, and then we find that we had returned to square one from which we started.
The concept of openness and international communication requires national solidarity from all sides, and this requires a unified discourse and conduct that recognizes and understands the national priorities and the supreme interests of the country. However, international openness and communication does not mean neglecting the Iraqi will in taking decisive stances towards noble and lofty standards and values we believe in. the pioneering of Iraq is not attained without taking brave and clear stances addressing the crises in the region stemming from the supreme interests of Iraq, and consider mutual and intertwined interests with brotherly and friendly neighboring countries. The interest of Iraq requires deepening the relations with brotherly and friendly countries and the Arab depth and the Islamic surroundings and the international community. We cannot be part of any axis of confrontation, at the same time nor can we stand watching when it comes to the interests of Iraq and its national security.
Praying for mercy and paradise for our honorable martyrs, and solace for their families, be keen to provide care and solve their problems, and swift recovery for our wounded and ill people, and protection for our great religious authorities, especially the supreme Imam Sayyid al-Sistani (long live) and to all the devoted patriots who are dedicated to provide service for their people.
