Iran’s interference in Iraq backfired in Sunday’s elections as Hashd al Shaabi-linked political groups lost significant seats
On the eve of Iraq’s elections, Asaib Ahl al-Haq put up banners and posters across Baghdad, which was once the staging point of US military operations in the country. showed blood-red tents - a scene representing the 7th century martyrdom of Hussain, Prophet Muhammad’s grandson - surrounding the US Congress building in Washington.
Even though the election turnout was low, the voters have made more than obvious that they don’t want outside interference, especially if it means formation of an incompetent government. In this April 15, 2021 file photo, a man inspects the site of a car bomb attack in Sadr City district of Baghdad, Iraq.
“We even saw him wearing a traditional Iraqi dress before the election,” Alaca says, referring to an ankle-length dress, which is accompanied with a keffiyeh. That’s significant as Sadr is almost always seen in public cloaked in a black gown and turban, the attire of a Shia scholar. Maliki, who was forced out of office in 2014 after he failed to stop the Daesh insurgency, has close links with Iran, something that has aided his political survival.
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