Media Monitor
Emtidad leader Al-Rikabi warns of unrest, criticizes political class in televised interview
BAGHDAD — In a televised interview, Alaa Al-Rikabi, leader of the Emtidad Movement, criticized Iraq’s ruling political class and raised concerns that the country could face unrest similar to Syria’s conflict if substantial reforms are not urgently enacted. Al-Rikabi remarked, “Emtidad may fall ill but does not die, as the strong nail is the one that gets hit,” emphasizing the movement’s resilience despite facing difficulties.
Al-Rikabi also reflected on the Tishreen protest movement, suggesting that its overall impact was limited by insufficient participation from society and elites during the 2019 demonstrations. Looking forward, he warned that future protests in Iraq could involve violence rather than remaining peaceful.
The Emtidad Movement originated from the Tishreen protests, a series of demonstrations that began in October 2019 in response to corruption and poor public services. The movement positioned itself as a reformist alternative to Iraq’s traditional sectarian political groups. It gained notable support in the 2021 parliamentary elections, initially winning nine seats, later increasing to 16 seats after the resignation of Sadrist MPs opened up 73 parliamentary seats to candidates with the second-highest votes.
Excerpts from Alaa Al-Rikabi ‘s interview with Al-Rasheed TV:
With all the targeting we are facing, yet “Emtidad” may fall ill but does not die. The strong nail is the one that gets hit, unlike the crooked nail. Hardly two or three days pass without us facing a systematic electronic campaign, because our movement represents a threat to the traditional parties in the Iraqi arena.
The idea of creating a political alternative to the traditional parties is what poses a threat to them. Criticism and protest alone do not threaten their political existence.
In the Emtidad Movement, we do not claim to be the only alternative. We are a thread in a bundle of threads that represent a strong braid, and this is the alternative to the current political class. People must understand that it is on its way out, and very soon. The political system itself may meet the same fate, and this is neither fortune-telling nor astrological talk.
The current political class was installed by the will of the occupation, supported by three standards that were supposed to shape its behavior. It suffered from the oppression of the tyrant, had a religious background, and grew up in Europe and the West. However, it oppressed the people just as the tyrant did, and it stole and killed in contradiction to the teachings of all heavenly religions. It also did not benefit from the global experiences under which it grew.
Everyone who came after 2003 founded “one-man” parties. There are no internal systems or sustainable political life within these organizations, and they are all now in their seventies and eighties. If they leave, there are no replacements for them.
We faced disappointment from society and the elites. Tishreen gave us a golden opportunity for change, and it may not be repeated soon. The protest squares represented only 3% or 4% of Iraqi society, and 90% of the participants were under 25 years old. Where were the elites and university professors? Standing and holding a ruler to place yourself equidistant from everyone will not build a country, with all due respect to them.
Wishes alone do not achieve goals, and some opportunities pass like clouds. Many elites want change but are not ready to pay the price, whether for their personal security or their families. They are not prepared to face the constant harassment that comes with taking on the work.
Looking at how Tishreen was born and the nature of the youth movement at the time, it is impossible to predict a similar opportunity. It could be today or tomorrow, or it may not come from the same generation as Tishreen.
During the Tishreen movement, we were able to maintain peacefulness thanks to the wise and the religious authority. We do not know what will happen in the next wave.
I sense an upcoming wave of protests and fear that Iraq will slide into a path similar to what happened in Syria. All our efforts to support peacefulness will collapse if the political class fails us, and we will not find anyone to listen to us as they did during Tishreen, despite the Nazi-like repression at the time.
Three days ago, I called one of the ministers, but he did not answer my calls. I wanted to inform him of a disaster in Nasiriyah, but he answers calls from representatives of the Coordination Framework and others, even though we have chosen to distance ourselves from sharing the cake with them and have accepted our role as opposition parties.
We are the only party that has demanded justice for the blood of Tishreen, and we tried three times, but our attempts died in the drawers of the Presidency of the Parliament. When Mohsen Al-Mandalawi formed a parliamentary investigative committee, six of its members were from the Framework and only two from Tishreen. How can we allow this committee to investigate, and how can the accused be the judge?