Lawmaker says MPs searched leaving Green Zone in graft crackdown

BAGHDAD — Security forces have begun searching all lawmakers leaving Baghdad’s Green Zone to prevent officials from passing money between them, a member of parliament said Monday, calling the measure unprecedented.

Mohammed al-Shammari, of the Khadmat bloc, described the searches in an interview on Al Rabiaa TV. “What I saw yesterday happened for the first time,” he said. “All lawmakers leaving the Green Zone were searched by security forces out of concern over the transfer of money between officials.”

Al-Shammari praised the campaign and predicted it would widen. “Over the past two days, when Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi began the campaign, things changed,” he said. “I say what is coming will be shocking, and the arrests will continue.” He said the prime minister would win broad public admiration if he kept it up, and urged the government to scrutinize officials who had stayed away over the past two days.

“The honest person fears nothing,” al-Shammari said. “It is encouraging to see these people in the grip of justice.”

His comments followed the operation announced Sunday, in which authorities said dozens of current and former lawmakers, political figures and officials were arrested. State media said the arrests were based on confessions by detained Deputy Oil Minister Adnan al-Jumaili, who was held earlier this month over alleged financial irregularities in the oil sector.