The three Iraqi presidencies and the head of the Supreme Judicial Council said that weapons must be confined to the hands of the state and respect for the judiciary, legal procedures and constitutional frameworks, while Washington considered that the violation of the law and the sovereignty of Iraq by armed militias harms all Iraqis.
A statement issued after a meeting that included the presidents of the republic, ministers, parliament and the judiciary added that the continuing security unrest and the violation of power represents a serious violation of the state's prestige.
The statement indicated that the armed deployment of Popular Mobilization fighters in Baghdad represents an escalation that must be addressed.
According to informed sources, the meeting focused on the events of Wednesday, the armed deployment of hundreds of Hashd fighters in the Green Zone in Baghdad and the accompanying developments that led to the handover of a reformer to the security of the Popular Mobilization Forces, indicating that the handover was taken in order to end the crisis and prevent slipping into any armed confrontation between the army forces And the elements of the crowd.
Prior to the meeting, the director of the Al-Jazeera office in Baghdad stated that Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi and the Iraqi authority wanted to ensure that there were legal measures taken by the Popular Mobilization Authority in relation to the charges against Musleh, which he was arrested based on, and that the issue does not end with the release of Musleh, as happened with leaders or Other elements in the popular crowd without being held accountable earlier.
The director of the Al-Jazeera office in Baghdad indicated that sources assured him that there is another meeting that will follow the meeting of the four presidencies, where Al-Kazemi will meet with a number of Shiite political forces active in the Iraqi scene, to discuss the military deployment carried out by hundreds of Hashd elements yesterday in Baghdad, and the necessity Working not to repeat it, and ensuring that the law applies to everyone.
In a related context, sources from the Prime Minister's Office denied the news circulated by parties to the crowd that a reformer had been handed over to the Popular Mobilization Authority on Wednesday evening.
These sources told Al-Jazeera that Musleh is still in the custody of the Joint Operations Command, which is now investigating him regarding the accusations against him, and that he will be referred to the Iraqi judiciary to decide his fate.
And early Friday dawn, the US State Department said in a statement, "We are outraged by brutal violence against peaceful Iraqi demonstrators demanding reform."
The statement considered that the violation of the law and the sovereignty of Iraq by armed militias harms all Iraqis.
Iraqi forces are deployed in the vicinity of the Green Zone (Anatolia)
Armed spread
On Wednesday, the PMF announced the end of the arrest crisis of Musleh on the same day he was arrested, saying that "sedition has ended," this comes after an armed deployment of the mobilization fighters in the Green Zone in central Baghdad, followed by another deployment of the Iraqi army forces in the vicinity of the area.
The director of the Popular Mobilization Authority, Muhannad al-Uqabi, said, "The matter is over, and the strife has ended," referring to the settlement of the Musleh case.
Accounts close to the crowd published photos of a meeting that included the head of the Al-Fateh Alliance, Hadi al-Amiri, the head of the Hashd’s commission, Faleh al-Fayyad, and the chief of staff of the crowd, Abu Fadak al-Muhammadawi, indicating that the meeting ended the case of Musleh by handing him over to the crowd security.
Qassem Musleh, arrested by the authorities according to charges related to the Terrorism Law (communication sites)
The deputy of the Al-Fateh Alliance (which includes the majority of the Popular Mobilization factions) in Parliament, Faleh Khazali, announced in a tweet via Twitter, "The release of the Anbar Operations Commander of the Popular Mobilization Forces, Qassem Musleh, and his receipt by the security of the crowd."
He added, "No member of the defense, interior, counterterrorism apparatus and the popular crowd is entitled to be arrested except by the party to which the affiliate belongs."
It is noteworthy that Qassem Musleh was the commander of the Tafuf Brigade of the Hussaini shrine (the religious reference in Najaf), and in 2017 he assumed the position of commander of the Popular Mobilization Operations in Anbar (west of the country).
Earlier, the Security Media Cell (affiliated with the Ministry of Defense) announced that Musleh had been arrested "on charges of terrorism," noting that a joint committee was investigating him.
Prime Minister @MAKadhimi: The actions of armed groups in Baghdad today are a serious violation, not only of law and order, but of the Iraqi constitution.
- The Media Office of the Prime Minister 🇮🇶 (@IraqiPMO) May 26, 2021
Serious violation
Commenting on the deployment of Hashd forces in the Green Zone, Al-Kazemi said after a security meeting on Wednesday evening that "the moves by armed groups in Baghdad on Wednesday are a serious violation, not only of law and order, but of the Iraqi constitution," according to a statement.
He added that, "a competent Iraqi security force, by order of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, executed a judicial arrest warrant against one of the accused this morning in accordance with Article 4 of the Iraqi Terrorism Law based on complaints against him."
He pointed out that "an investigation committee was formed consisting of the Joint Operations Command, Interior Intelligence, Military Intelligence, National Security, and Popular Mobilization Security to investigate the accusations against him."
The Popular Mobilization Forces is an institution affiliated with the Iraqi Armed Forces, and is directly linked to the Prime Minister.