The website for the pro-Sadrist Al-Kufa news agency posted a scanned copy of a statement apparently issued by Muqtada Al-Sadr earlier this week. In the statement, Al-Sadr voices his pleasure with fatwas that have rejected the long-term security agreement currently being negotiated between US forces and the Iraqi government.
The aggreement, which seeks to maintain a US military presence in the country once the UN mandate expires at the end of the year, has received significant opposition.
Al-Sadr also includes a list of demands and guidelines addressed to the ‘people’ and concerned parties on the issue. In addition to demanding a popular referendum, which was confirmed by the AP today citing a more recent statement, Al-Sadr also calls for:
1. Making the people aware, at all social levels, of the points of the agreement and their harm
2. Politicians and parliamentarians uniting to bring together coalitions and political factions and parties against this agreement
3. The intensification of media efforts in an organized manner by those designated to do so only
4. Taking to the streets for demonstrations after Friday prayers in all regions of Iraq… until the agreement is cancelled or further notification is given
5. The formation of Iraqi political and religious delegations to be sent to:
a. Neighboring states to gather support for the Iraqi people and stand by them against this agreement
b. To some of the Western countries, the UN, the OIC, the Arab League, and the EU (on the condition that no country participating in the talks is involved in the occupation)
6. The renewal of the demand for the end of the occupation or a plan for withdrawal
7. Cautioning the government not to sign this agreement because it is not in the interests of the Iraqi people and that the government does not have the authority to sign such an agreement
8. The activation of the Hawza's educational role and demanding it to stand against this agreement as it sees fit
Subsequently, the website has turned the statement into a de facto petition by asking visitors to the website to sign on to these recommendations provided by Al-Sadr in the comments section of the post. The image below is the banner that one clicks on to navigate to the web page containing the statement. It reads, “Yes to the complete sovereignty of Iraq, press [here] to write your signature”, and calls for the rejection of the security pact and demonstrations after friday prayers.
While it's doubtful that presenting this statement online as a petition will influence the situation on the ground, there are some recommendations raised by Al-Sadr here worth commenting on… namely the dispatching of delegations to meet with international and regional entities. However, it remains unclear whether or not he truly seeks to garner outside support, or merely intends to present additional obstacles to the agreement by internationalizing the issue.
