Zaidi: We Will Not Let Armed Groups Violate Citizens’ Rights
The Iraqi PM accuses unnamed groups of taking land and rights “in the name of legitimacy,” hours after Kata’ib Sayyid al-Shuhada denied signing any arms agreement
ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) - Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi hardened his stance on Sunday toward armed groups that oppose placing weapons under state control, saying:
He will not allow them to keep seizing land and the rights of Iraqi citizens.
He also accused parties of taking the rights of the Iraqi people “in the name of legitimacy,”. Al-Zaidi did not name any group in the remarks as reported.
The prime minister said the government is moving to impose the state’s authority over the whole of its territory and end every phenomenon of weapons outside official institutions, to protect citizens’ rights and Iraq’s sovereignty.
The remarks came after a statement issued at dawn on Sunday by Kata’ib Sayyid al-Shuhada, which denied signing any agreement or document on handing over or controlling its weapons.
The group said it was responding to Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein, who told Al Jazeera on Saturday that the factions had agreed to state control of arms, amid a heated debate over the future of armed groups’ weapons in the country.
Hussein said Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq and Kata’ib Sayyid al-Shuhada had agreed to arms control and that the prime minister had reached an understanding with four groups, while talks continue with Harakat al-Nujaba and Kata’ib Hezbollah. Kata’ib Sayyid al-Shuhada declared its adherence to al-Zaidi’s plan on October 1, provided the other side honors its obligations, and listed conditions in August that included the withdrawal of US forces, according to Iraqi media. Al-Zaidi’s plan sets June 30, 2027, as the deadline to bring all weapons under state control. The US has designated Kata’ib Sayyid al-Shuhada a terrorist organization.