Khamis al-Khanjar, leader of Iraq’s Sovereignty Alliance, is under judicial investigation following the release of a leaked audio recording attributed to him.
Probe launched after leaked audio allegedly featuring Khamis Al-Khanjar goes viral
BAGHDAD — Iraq’s judiciary has opened an investigation into a leaked audio recording allegedly featuring Khamis Al-Khanjar, leader of the Sovereignty Alliance, in which the speaker criticizes the country’s post-2003 political order and the dominance of Shiite factions.
The recording, widely circulated online and aired on Iraqi television, includes remarks attributed to Al-Khanjar that describe the country’s governance as being under the control of militias since the fall of Saddam Hussein. “Since 2003, governance has been in the hands of militias,” the voice says. “I’m not speaking in a sectarian way; I’m speaking politically. They control all state institutions — security, economy, judiciary, and even education.” The speaker adds, “We are marginalized, and as Sunni forces, we don’t demand power, we demand balance.”
The voice continues: “Governance after 2003 didn’t create a state; it created a politicized sectarian entity… The country is exhausted. If power isn’t returned to the Sunnis… the country will turn upside down.”
A judicial source told 964media that Al-Khanjar appeared before the Karkh Third Investigation Court and was released on bail while the investigation continues. The Supreme Judicial Council confirmed that the court launched an inquiry into the leaked clip on April 29, and referred the audio to technical experts for analysis.
The case was opened following formal complaints by lawmakers Mohammed Jassim Al-Khafaji and Amir Razzaq Ajlan, who called on the judiciary to pursue legal measures in response to the remarks.
In a statement issued April 27, the Sovereignty Alliance denied the authenticity of the audio, calling it a fabrication and part of a broader campaign to discredit its leader. “The Sovereignty Alliance condemns the targeted campaign against the alliance’s leader, Sheikh Khamis Al-Khanjar, which includes the circulation of fake audio clips,” the statement read.
The alliance accused “non-state actors, rogue militias, and sectarian groups” of orchestrating the leak in retaliation for Al-Khanjar’s political advocacy, particularly on issues affecting displaced persons and detainees from Sunni-majority regions. “We warn against efforts to silence prominent Sunni voices,” the alliance said, adding that it trusted the judiciary to uncover the truth and prosecute those responsible.