INA–Baghdad
The head of the Supreme Islamic Council, Sheikh Humam Hamoudi, emphasized on Sunday the necessity of continuing the anti-corruption campaign with a comprehensive vision and plan.
Sheikh Hamoudi stated at the Dialogue Forum, according to a statement from his media office received by the Iraqi News Agency (INA): "We commend the Dawn Campaign against corruption, which was essential for purifying and cleansing the political process in Iraq, despite the pain, hardship, losses, and exceptional measures involved."
"The anti-corruption campaign must continue, but it must be based on a comprehensive vision and plan free from politicization or exploitation, addressing the root causes of the problem and stemming from the question: What kind of Iraq do we want?" he added.
"The people have the right to ask: Where was governmental integrity, financial oversight, and parliamentary accountability when the crimes of the North Oil scandal came to light today? There is clear negligence," he continued.
He explained that this regime will not be shaken by the removal of corrupt individuals, regardless of their position, because it is a parliamentary system, built on a constitution, and established by Sayyid al-Sistani and the valiant people who offered blood and sacrifices.
"The Supreme Religious Authority was the first to call for combating corruption from the very beginning of the new system, out of its concern for the political project and its understanding that corruption leads to the collapse of society and the end of the state," Hamoudi stated.
"Corruption is part of the legacy of the occupation after 2003. It encouraged the looting of state institutions and created contractors and prominent figures from among those who collaborated with it," he confirmed.
"To succeed, the issue of integrity and combating corruption must become a culture derived from Imam Ali's letter to Malik al-Ashtar to be instilled in our schools, universities, and government departments, and for which we—people, government, and parliament—must cooperate," he said.
"We want an awe-inspiring integrity that bravely confronts any inflation of funds, monitors the money spent on elections, and prevents violations and the rise of opportunists," he concluded.
