UK £2 Issue 249, Year 5 March 22, 2020 EU €2.50 www.thearabweekly.com UK’s closed Interview Saudi mosques Ghaith anti-graft al-Omari campaign Page 18 Page 15 Page 12 Iraq’s Region expects more trying times PM-designate faces resistance as infection cases continue to rise of Shia bloc There is concern that lack of testing means, among other factors, producing inaccurate counts of infection cases. The Arab Weekly staff Samir Wahbi raqi Prime Minister-designate Adnan al-Zurfi faces a tough task in forming a new cabinet and se- Paris I curing parliamentary approval of his proposed government within s the number of confirmed 30 days. cases of the coronavirus Zurfi, 54, a former governor of Na- contamination climbs, there jaf, was asked to form a new govern- A are increasing concerns ment March 17 by Iranian President across the Middle East and North Af- Barham Salih after the two largest rica that more trying times are ahead. parliamentary blocs failed to nomi- Official figures indicate there are nate a candidate. As a senior figure 18,000 confirmed cases of corona- in the Nasr-led bloc of the Iraqi par- virus infection in the Eastern Medi- liament, led by former Prime Minis- terranean region — the Middle East, ter Haider al-Abadi, Zurfi must bring North Africa, Afghanistan and Paki- together Iraq’s fractured political stan — with more than 1,000 deaths scene. in seven countries, mostly in Iran. Zurfi has announced a 12-point The way of life to which the region plan, including promises for early had been accustomed has come to a snap elections, to address the coro- halt. Millions of students are out of navirus threat and secure Iraq’s school, airline travel is suspended 2020 federal budget. nearly everywhere and employees His pledges on foreign policy, par- are struggling to work from home, ticularly on “avoiding regional and when they can. international conflicts” and “seek- Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz ing to open up to all neighbouring Al Saud said the kingdom would im- countries and the general interna- plement all needed measures to con- tional community, in a way that pre- tain the “difficult stage” of the coro- serves the independence of Iraq as a navirus crisis. However, he warned sovereign nation,” would gain him “the next stage will be more difficult support from Iraq’s Sunni and Kurd- at the global level in confronting the ish groups but could be a concern for rapid spread of the pandemic.” No social distancing here. A crowd of Iranians, some only wearing protective masks, at Tehran’s Iran-backed Shia groups. (AFP) There is fear among experts that grand bazaar, despite the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr and the actual number of virus infection his powerful Sairoon bloc may not be cases is higher than official figures. The ability to track the pandemic things even worse in the future. suspensions and quarantines, could inclined to back Zurfi, given his role A lack of testing kits amid a chroni- varies from country to country. In Most countries in the Arab world render life unbearable for vulnerable as Najaf governor during which he cally inadequate health structure in some Arab countries, the situation also lack ventilator-equipped in- segments of the population. fought against al-Sadr’s Mahdi Army many parts of the region along with is akin to that of sub-Saharan Africa tensive care units to cope with the There are those facing conditions and its rebellion against US troops in the possibility that many mild cases in the early weeks of the outbreak swelling numbers of those infected. of war or are displaced and with no 2004. The other powerful Shia bloc, are not being detected could produce when only two countries had out- To further compound the problem, access to reliable health systems. Fatah, led by Hadi al-Amiri and asso- an inaccurate count. break testing ability. many in society are not showing There is also a huge part of the popu- ciated with the Iran-backed Popular Global health authorities called on Even more adequately equipped signs of full awareness or mobilisa- lation that is either self-employed or Mobilisation Forces (PMF), rejected MENA countries to be more forth- Arab countries were blinded by Iran’s tion. Shia religious processions in living off the informal sector may not Zurfi outright, describing his nomi- coming about epidemiological sta- attempts at denial and under-report- Iraq and Iran have continued to draw be able to economically survive the nation as unconstitutional. tistics. ing as to the extent of the contamina- large crowds in recent days. disruptive measures. Shia parties have begun a media “Unfortunately, even today, as tion in its borders that delayed pre- “Frankly we are seeing uneven ap- “We need to take it to the next campaign against Zurfi, accusing the situation is becoming critical, cautionary decisions, especially in proaches across the region. While we level to ensure support reaches those him of corruption while he was gov- information on cases is insufficient- terms of travel restrictions. have observed impressive progress entirely dependent on the informal ernor, as well as being too close to ly communicated by countries to Tehran refrained from stamp- in several countries, not all are yet economy and countries less able to the United States. WHO,” said Ahmed Al-Mandhari, ing passports of Shia visitors from applying the whole of government respond,” cautioned UN Secretary- Zurfi has not commented about World Health Organisation regional Gulf Cooperation Council coun- and whole of society approach,” said General Antonio Guterres. calls for the United States to with- director for the Eastern Mediterra- tries, triggering vehement protests Mandhari. draw troops from Iraq, demands that nean. He complained of “under-re- from Riyadh. By refusing to impose There are concerns that some Samir Wahbi is an Arab writer based gained traction following the killing porting on the part of some countries quarantines and confinement meas- drastic decisions taken to curtail the in Paris. of Iranian Major-General Qassem with regard to positive cases.” ures, Iranian authorities could make spread of the disease, such as travel P2-9, 11, 16-17 Soleimani in a US drone strike. The clout of Shia groups seems however to have atrophied in recent months. It was not clear to what extent Iran sends message of belligerence vowing new that Iraq’s protest movement could support Zurfi but many demonstra- tors view him as part of Iraq’s cor- retaliation against US even as coronavirus crisis deepens rupt political class. Thomas Seibert our great commander. We have re- The exchanges are signs of a war President Donald Trump under a sponded to that terrorist act and by proxy between Iran and the “maximum pressure” campaign af- will respond to it,” Rohani said in a United States in the Middle East as ter he took the United States out of Istanbul televised speech. Tehran’s tries to expand its regional the nuclear agreement with Tehran Soleimani, leader of the IRGC’s influence. two years ago. ran is hardening its stance in its al-Quds Force, was instrumental Washington argues that its cam- confrontation with the United in implementing Iran’s aggressive paign to curb Iran’s nuclear, mis- States, seeking further revenge strategy in the Middle East through Iranian President Hassan sile and regional activities does Rohani said Iran would I for the killing of one of its top proxies in countries of the region not stop the flow of humanitarian commanders even as the coronavi- such as Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen. continue to respond to the goods but Iran says the sanctions rus threat in the sanctions-hit coun- The United States launched air United States’ assassination must be lifted to allow the import try developed into a crisis that kills strikes in Iraq targeting Iran-backed of Major-General Qassem of medical goods needed to fight about 150 people every day and in- Shia militia members believed re- Soleimani. coronavirus. fects 50 each hour. sponsible for the rocket attack that Iran’s neighbours are concerned Iranian President Hassan Rohani killed and wounded US and British Rohani’s belligerent statement that the Islamic Republic could said Iran would continue to re- troops at a base north of Baghdad. indicated that Iran is determined worsen the coronavirus situation spond to the United States’ assas- In a speech marking Nowruz, the to keep pouring resources into for- for the region. Approximately 90% sination of Major-General Qassem Persian New Year, Rohani highlight- eign policy adventures at a time of all cases in the Middle East can Soleimani, an Islamic Revolution- ed what he viewed as the achieve- its health system is under severe be traced to Iran, news reports said. ary Guard Corps (IRGC) command- ments of the past year, including strain because of the coronavirus Looking for acceptance. er killed in a US drone strike in Iraq the missile strikes on US troops in pandemic. Thomas Seibert is an Arab Weekly File photo of Adnan al-Zurfi, in January. Iraq and the downing of a sophisti- Iran’s economy has been severely correspondent. then-governor of Najaf. (AFP) “The Americans assassinated cated US drone. hit by sanctions introduced by US P2, 17 P7, 10 2 March 22, 2020 Top news Gulf countries announce tougher measures to contain virus outbreak Mohammed Alkhereiji Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz signed to promote Saudi tourism Al Saud delivered a rare public ad- that have been postponed or can- dress urging Saudis to work together celled, including the Red Sea Inter- ith infection levels ris- to confront the pandemic.