Al-Sadr: I will not participate in the electoral process

Baghdad - INA

Leader of the Shiite National Movement, Sayyid Muqtada al-Sadr, confirmed this evening, Thursday, that he will not participate in the electoral process.

Al-Sadr's statement came in response to a question about the role of members of the Shiite National Movement in the midst of preparations for the upcoming elections. He said, "Praise be to God, who saved us from the corrupt people. God Almighty does not like corruption. 

Let everyone know that as long as corruption exists, I will not participate in a lame electoral process that is solely concerned with sectarian, ethnic, and partisan interests. It is far removed from the suffering of the people and the disasters taking place in the region, the main cause of which is the plunging of Iraq and its people into incinerators that have nothing to do with them, as they say."

He added, "I still rely on the obedience of the popular bases of the Sadrist supporters in the Shiite National Movement. Therefore, just as I ordered them to vote, today I also forbid them all from voting and running for office, as it constitutes assistance in sin. We will remain lovers of Iraq and will sacrifice our lives for it, and we will not fall short in that."