Considering Cover-up as Danger to Democracy, Sayyid Ammar al-Hakim Requests the Speaker of the Iraqi Council of Representatives to Disclose the Names of Representatives Voting in Favor of the Privileges
Sayyid Ammar al-Hakim, head of the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq, asked the Speaker of the Iraqi Council of Representatives, Mr. Usama al-Nujayfi, and his two deputies to answer the request of the head of the Citizen Movement to disclose the names of the members of his movement who voted for the privileges of the three presidents, the ministers and the representatives in the unified retirement law, expressing his disappointment for not responding to such request. He explained that according to the initial reports, the representatives of the Citizen Movement did not vote for the privileges, and this is what the reports of the Council of Representatives will bear out, considering that the cover-up of facts put democracy and rights in Iraq at the edge, as well as the credibility of the Council of Representatives, who is supposed to be the guardian of the people's rights. Moreover, he commented that the privileges make the law unjust and unfair, showing that the Martyr of the Niche movement decided to dismiss any representative who voted in favor of the privileges and will forbid them from taking part in the elections through the Citizen list. On the other hand, his Eminence maintained that the head of the Citizen Alliance was commissioned by the leadership body to form a legal team to contest the privileges with the federal court, stressing that the Martyr of the Niche movement does not tend to take impulsive decisions, rather it is a movement that has self-respect, is known for its honesty, fulfills its promises and believes in what it says. He also confirmed that the members of the Martyr of the Niche movement are the obedient followers of religious marja who abide by its instructions and that the movement does neither seek to dominate the marja, nor deny those who want to be followers such right, and its obedience to Imam al-Sistani (may Allah protect him) is not a favor to the marja but a debt owed to it.
This came in a speech delivered by his Eminence, in his office in Baghdad, during the cultural forum on Wednesday, February 12, 2014.
The Martyr of the Niche Movement Sticks to the Marjas for They are Iraq's Safety Valve
His Eminence reminded of the obedience of the Movement members to their marja when the Iraqi Vice President of Iraq, Mr. Adil Abdul-Mahdi, resigned from office, albeit this high position, as instructed by the marjas to minimize the position, stating that such course does not support any kind of flattery or underestimation for any reason and they will abide by the orders of the marjas especially under these sensitive conditions Iraq is going through. To him, the marja is the Iraq's safety valve, the Martyr of the Niche movement will stick always to the marjas given their doctrinal and directional weight in this country and will not accept to disobey the instructions of the religious marjas, considering itself as referential movement. Moreover, he said for this reason, it was decided to dismiss any representative who voted in favor of the privileges of representatives and presidents, stressing that the Supreme Council does not pay attention to numeric equations because it is a political component that is not controlled by such equations and that it has surpassed many of them given its depth, history and course.
Strategic Initiatives Cannot be Implemented Piecemeal But All at Once
The Head of the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq explained that the war against terrorism is an open and long war that would last for many rounds, assuring that victory will be achieved for Iraq, for freedom and for life. He stressed the need to fight this battle according to our terms and our time and place, as well as the need to maintain the initiative in our hands and to determine the time and place of the battle instead of depending on the terrorists’ choices and following them where they want us to. The State is responsible for protecting citizens, and terrorism is a murdering criminal hiding behind innocents and children, which is the State’s biggest challenge. His Eminence highlighted the importance of strengthening the internal front and limiting terrorism, indicating that “Our Resisting Anbar” initiative was born based on a strategy aiming to isolate terrorism and protect the people. He added that, despite the stances taken towards this initiative, it was implemented one step at a time. His Eminence expressed his regret for the piecemeal implementation of the initiative, pointing out that strategic initiatives must be implemented all at once because they complement one another.
Timing is the Decisive Factor for Victory or Defeat
Sayyid Ammar Al Hakim stated that the all the proposed initiatives are good and important regardless of who is behind them. He highlighted the importance of timing as being the decisive factor for victory and reduction of losses, reminding that terrorism lives on the enormity of losses and on terrorizing people and community more than it lives on terrorist acts targeting the state and security apparatuses. His Eminence added that the Iraqi people is fighting a war with Iraq since it decided to topple dictatorship, and that the people, the army and the national forces will remain united in the fight against terrorism, for the battle is a battle of existence. He also said that the Martyr of the Niche movement will keep suggesting solutions despite the disturbance or attempts to get round them. This is its duty and people in positions of responsibility should benefit from these solutions. His Eminence stressed the significance of the factor of time, for wasting it means wasting the solutions, expressing his confidence that Iraqis will triumph over terrorism and will teach the world a lesson on how to rise for they have been at war for four centuries during which they only witnessed relative calm followed by other military and humanitarian wars. Sayyid Al Hakim considered that humanitarian wars are the roughest wars that Iraqis have had to face, as they were besieged from the inside and outside, lived with a dictator and bore all the sufferings, and stayed a generous people, unlike some who have been very harsh although they did not experience what the Iraqi people had gone through. Through these attributes, the Iraqis will defeat terrorism; victory is close God willing.
