Shafaq News-Baghdad
Iraq'sjudiciary has requested the lifting of parliamentary immunity for lawmaker HasanAl-Khafaji (also known as Hasanein al-Khafaji) in connection with an investigation involving a residentialdevelopment project and an alleged $500,000 extortion attempt, according to anofficial court document issued on Sunday.
The request,submitted by the Presidency of the Baghdad/ Al-Karkh Court of Appeal toParliament, stems from a complaint filed by the owner of the Hawraa Baghdadresidential project. Al-Khafaji is accused of seeking a 40% stake in theproject and attempting to influence the handling of a case involving thecomplainant by claiming ties to judges and senior officials, while seekingintervention from the Supreme Judicial Council, the Federal Commission ofIntegrity, and the National Investment Commission despite having no officialauthority to do so.
The court saidthe accusations were supported by audio recordings attributed to the lawmakerand statements made by a detained suspect identified as one of his officeemployees.
Citing Article11(Second/4) of the amended Penal Code, the court asked Parliament to obtainthe approval of the speaker and his deputies to proceed with legal measuresagainst Al-Khafaji and consider whether his immunity should be lifted.
Iraq's FederalCommission of Integrity in 2025 recovered nearly one trillion dinars (about$650M) in public funds while pursuing dozens of senior officials, includingministers, through judicial proceedings.
On May 30,Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi established the Supreme Sovereign Council forIntegrity, Oversight, and Recovery of Public Funds, tasked with pursuing casesinvolving the misuse of public money across ministries, governmentinstitutions, and provincial administrations.
Al-Khafaji declared his withdrawal from the Reconstructionand Development Coalition (RDC) led by former Prime Minister Mohammed ShiaAl-Sudani, confirming he would continue serving in Parliament as an independentlawmaker.
: A guide to Ali Al-Zaidi's ministerial program
