The Founding Statement of the Iraqi Istklal Assembly

The Founding Statement of the Iraqi Istklal Assembly

In the name of God, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate,

Amid the critical challenges confronting our beloved nation, and after more than two decades of failure by the ruling system in Iraq to secure political, economic, and social stability, we find ourselves facing a dire reality that threatens our existence as Iraqis, imposing upon us a historic responsibility to confront this decline and act to rescue our homeland.

The political experience since 2003 has demonstrated that the current political system has failed to establish a state of institutions. Rather than serving as an instrument to safeguard the interests of Iraqis, this system has become a source of divisions and deterioration across multiple levels. The continuation of this approach jeopardizes Iraq’s sovereignty and unity, while paving the way for foreign interventions that now dictate the country’s fate and steer its political and economic decisions.

The looming threat of economic sanctions, a result of the policies of the current regime, represents a grave danger to the lives of Iraqis. Instead of prioritizing the protection of the people’s interests and strengthening the national economy, the ruling authority remains preoccupied with securing the interests of external parties and implementing their agendas at the expense of the national interest. This subjugation to foreign will has transformed Iraq into a theater for regional and international conflicts, to the detriment of citizens’ security and the state’s stability.

The ongoing focus of the ruling political class on corruption, and both internal and external conflicts, coupled with its utter disregard for the people’s call for an independent and strong state, has exposed the depth of the deviation from the national path. It has become evident that the foremost goal of these forces is to preserve their political and economic gains, even at the expense of future generations.

In this context, we emphasize the necessity of adhering to the directives of the highest religious authority, which has consistently called for the exclusive control of arms by the state, the prevention of foreign interference, and the safeguarding of Iraq’s sovereignty. Yet, the armed groups have failed to comply with these directives, and the government has not earnestly acted upon them, making unchecked weaponry and foreign interventions a fundamental obstacle to Iraq’s stability and progress.

Just as Najaf Al-Ashraf has historically stood as a staunch defender of Iraq’s unity, security, and stability, and has been the cradle of national stances during the most decisive moments in the country’s history, we, from Najaf Al-Ashraf, today announce the establishment of the Iraqi Istklal Assembly.

This Assembly shall serve as a free national voice, articulating the aspirations of the people in building an independent, just, and strong state. Our aim is to restore Iraq’s national decision-making from the hands of foreign powers, put an end to regional and international influence over our internal and external policies, and rebuild the state on solid democratic foundations that guarantee justice and equality for all citizens.

At the Iraqi Istklal Assembly, we firmly believe that Iraq’s salvation lies in the free will of its people, in the ability of Iraqis to transcend sectarian and political divisions, and in working together to establish an independent, sovereign state that places the interests of the citizen above all else.

With God’s guidance and support.

Iraqi Istklal Assembly

Najaf Al-Ashraf – Iraq

April 3, 2025