Following developments regarding the arrest warrant for the top Sunni official in Iraq, Tariq al-Hashemi, diplomatic sources told Today’s Zaman that “Hashemi, in his capacity as Iraqi vice president, could come to Turkey any time he desires” on Thursday, but they further added that, despite the emerging chaos, it might be “more suitable” for the official to remain inside Iraq. Thursday’s bombings that claimed more than 50 lives, smearing Baghdad with blood, was immediately linked with the arrest warrant issued for Hashemi on charges of running a hit squad to take down government officials and security forces.
Hashemi made a defense from Arbil, where he is currently staying in the hope that Kurdish administrators will not turn him in, saying that the charges are part of a political scheme by Shiite Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to embarrass him and seize further power for the Shiite majority.
Turkish officials expressed concern over the developments and said they feared Iraq could descend into chaos, much like the scene in 2003 immediately after Sunni leader Saddam Hussein was brought down by US intervention. Back in 2003, Iraq’s Shiite and Sunnis battled over power sharing after Hussein’s fall; but the situation seemed to have calmed due to elections and a government that seemed to be functioning until Sunday. On Sunday, the last batch of US troops left Iraq for good as the US pulled out, hoping that they were leaving behind a peaceful and stable country. US officials, upon the news about Hashemi, expressed concern over the arrest warrant and advised calm and fairness in handling the matter.
After Hashemi fled Baghdad for Arbil, Maliki called on the semiautonomous Kurdish north to hand Hashemi over to justice, promising a “fair trial,” just like the one Hussein had when the US first intervened in the Iraqi regime. However, Hashemi said he was willing to be put on trial in the Kurdish region, which has its own administration, signaling that he would not return to Baghdad because he believes the Shiite leadership framed him. Although Thursday’s bombings were not claimed by any group, the bombings carried the marks of an attack by al-Qaida’s Sunni insurgents, the Associated Press reported. Although the bombs seemed to be targeting neighborhoods with all ethnic groups, most targets were in Shiite neighborhoods, raising alarms on the international arena that there might be retaliation from the Shiite bloc.
Earlier this week, Iraq’s most popular Sunni party, Iraqiya, protested parliament for not equally sharing power. Maliki is accused by Sunni officials for allegedly hoarding power in his Shiite bloc and trying to hold on to key posts, such as interior and defense, while Shiite analysts express the fears on the part of the Shiites that Hussein-era persecutions might come back if Sunnis gain too much power again.
