Sadr Faces Hard Challenges After Surprise Win in Iraqi Elections
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Iran’s Qassem Welcoming Jerusalem move, Soleimani Ramadan Gaza violence and in the crosshairs Palestinian Nakba Page 13 Pages 6,21 Pages 4-8, 12 May 20, 2018 Issue 157, Year 4 UK £2 www.thearabweekly.com EU €2.50 Sadr faces hard challenges after surprise win in Iraqi elections ► In a sign of continued interference in Iraqi politics, Tehran sent Major-General Qassem Soleimani, leader of Iran’s al-Quds Force, to Iraq to encourage forming a coalition that does not include Sadr’s supporters. Mamoon Alabbasi Alliance led by Prime Minister partnership is very plausible, Iran Haider al-Abadi, which came third is likely to push for Abadi to join its in the race with 42 seats. favoured fold. After all, Abadi did London Another major Shia player that make a one-day alliance with Amiri. could join such a coalition – but not Even if a Sadr-Abadi coalition that he coalition backed by in- replace Abadi’s list — is the National includes Sunni and Kurdish lists is fluential Shia cleric Muqta- Wisdom Movement, which secured able to form a government, the na- da al-Sadr has secured the 19 seats. tionalist cleric would not necessar- T largest number of parlia- Sadr has already ruled out join- ily be able to select, let alone direct, mentary seats following Iraq’s elec- ing forces with the two Shia-led the new prime minister. tions but he faces a number of seri- lists that are staunchly backed by Marching Towards Reform is led ous challenges before he can shape Iran: the Conquest Coalition, led by by Hassan al-Aqouli, a doctor who the country’s next government. former militiaman Hadi al-Amiri, has not held political office. It is Final results showed that his which came second with 47 seats; unlikely that Sadr would suggest alliance, known as Marching To- and the State of Law list, led by for- Aqouli to fill the post of prime min- wards Reform, won 54 seats out of mer prime minister Nuri al-Maliki, ister. (Reuters) 329 but it needs to form a coalition which only managed to win 25 Abadi, prime minister since 2014 with other electoral lists in order to seats. with a victory against the Islamic Kingmaker? reach the 165 seat number that al- Sadr’s unwillingness to join forc- State (ISIS) under his belt, is likely Iraqi Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr heads to a polling station lows it to form a government. es with Amiri and Maliki, in addi- to be his own man despite the rela- during the parliamentary election in Najaf, on May 12. Sadr himself cannot be a prime tion to his bid to be free from Irani- tively humbling election results. minister as he did not take part in an influence and maintain good ties There are certainly going to be disa- the elections but the Marching coa- with Saudi Arabia, has led Tehran, greements, most notably on how to especially in the war effort against have called the electoral commis- lition is predominately made up of in a sign of continued interference fight corruption: Sadr has called for ISIS. Sadr’s wish to be independent sion for questioning and the dis- his loyalists in the newly formed in Iraqi politics, to send Major- an uncompromising war that Abadi of Tehran, however, must not be pute may be passed on to the fed- Istiqama party and five other par- General Qassem Soleimani, leader might not be able to deliver. understood as a willingness to take eral court. ties, including the Iraqi Communist of Iran’s al-Quds Force, to Iraq to Many of those who voted for Sadr part in hostile activities against The recount may not result in Party, which won two seats. encourage forming a coalition that would have voted for Abadi instead Iran. Sadr having fewer seats but until In addition to forming alliances does not include Sadr’s supporters. had the prime minister resigned Sadr’s most immediate challenge the issue is resolved, the legitimacy with Sunni and Kurdish lists, Sadr If Sadr fails to form an alliance from the Dawa party and made it is the same facing the country: Ris- of the whole process is called into would need to partner with one with Abadi and thus comes short clear that an alliance with Amiri ing calls for manual recounts of the question. major Shia-led coalition in order of the required seats, then the sec- was out of the question. votes after allegations of fraud and to secure the required number of ond biggest list, led by Amiri, can A ruling coalition that has Sadr incompetence were levelled at the Mamoon Alabbasi is Deputy seats. The most natural candidate try its luck in forming a governing at its heart is unlikely to object to country’s electoral commission. Managing Editor and Online Editor for such an alliance is the Victory coalition. While an Amiri-Maliki cooperating with the United States, Some 80 members of parliament of The Arab Weekly. US puts brave face on Sadr’s win Thomas Seibert Tehran alarmed Ali Alfoneh in Iraq, hopes for pragmatism Page 2 by Iraqi nationalism Page 2 UK retailers borrow a page from Christmas for Ramadan Mahmud el-Shafey ple are spending more each year,” the country’s largest Muslim um- “What Muslims are also seek- “We started to see restaurants do- said Shelina Janmohamed, vice- brella body representing more than ing is more sophistication so they ing iftar menus and some may even president of Ogilvy Noor. 500 affiliated mosques, charities say to us that they walk into some be opening all the way up to suhoor London In the United Kingdom, which and schools, called on UK retail- of the supermarkets that do have time… so young people might go boasts an estimated Muslim popu- ers to pitch more brands directly Ramadan deals and they’ll be excit- out for iftar and just stay out until s Ramadan kicks off across lation of 4.1 million, there is still to Muslims and take advantage of a ed that it’s acknowledged but then suhoor,” said Janmohamed. the world, UK retailers are more room for growth. gap in the market. the kind of products that are avail- There is increased understanding failing to cash in on a large- A number of large supermarkets able don’t match up to their aspira- of gift-giving, particularly around ly untapped market despite have begun gearing products and tions,” said Janmohamed. Eid. “This goes across multiple cat- A Muslim consumers are expectations of higher-than-ever deals towards Muslims. Tesco has a She pointed to a lack of variety in egories so fashion is very popular spending on foods and gifts. special Ramadan “top offers” range, not just requesting an offers on cuisine, saying that while as you would imagine with people Much like the Christmas season, including a dedicated page on its increase in the quantity many Ramadan shoppers are look- buying new clothes but also things the month of Ramadan, when Mus- website offering savings on a num- of Ramadan deals but the ing for a variety of cuisine for iftar like homeware and tech, toys, per- lims fast from sunrise to sunset, of- ber of mostly Asian food products. quality as well. (break-fast) and suhoor (pre-dawn sonal care cosmetics and fragrance fers a high consumer potential. But with Ogilvy Noor reporting meal), where there are Ramadan — there is a real range of categories.” A recent report by Islamic market- that 62% of Muslim consumers are “Muslims are consumers like any- deals, these focus largely on ethnic A number of major UK retailers ing agency Ogilvy Noor titled “The disappointed by current engage- one else and spend more during foods. “When you go into the su- have already announced special Eid Great British Ramadan” revealed ment from brands and retailers Ramadan,” he told Sky News. “That permarket it feels like it’s got a very gift packages. Westfield London, that the UK’s Ramadan economy is and that 78% of Muslim consum- economic boost is great for this strongly sub-continental flavour. Europe’s largest shopping centre, worth more than $270 million, with ers would like to invite retailers and country and great for all the retail- It’s very traditional,” she added. announced it would have its first major supermarket chains increas- brands to engage more with Rama- ers who benefit from that.” Muslims also tend to eat out Eid festival in June. ingly gearing products and offers dan and Eid al-Fitr, it remains a However, Muslim consumers are more during Ramadan, with many towards Muslim customers. largely untapped market. not just requesting an increase in Muslim-oriented restaurants offer- Mahmud el-Shafey is an “We think it is larger than £200m Miqdaad Versi, secretary-general the quantity of Ramadan deals but ing special iftar and even suhoor Arab Weekly correspondent and also it’s growing because peo- of the Muslim Council of Britain, the quality as well. deals. in London. 2 May 20, 2018 Cover Story US puts brave face on Sadr’s win in Iraq, hopes for pragmatism Thomas Seibert cratic process at a time when peo- willingness to work with Abadi and ple, many people doubted that Iraq Ammar al-Hakim’s National Wis- could take charge of themselves,” dom Movement were positive indi- Washington US Defence Secretary James Mat- cations. Sadr embraced a nationalist tis told reporters at the Pentagon. instead of a sectarian programme is fighters used to kill US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo during the election campaign.