[size=47]20 years since the US invasion: Iraq's politicians live in confiscated homes[/size]
One of Saddam Hussein's palaces in Basra, January 2022 (Hussein Faleh/AFP)
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Most of the senior officials in the current Iraqi government, party and militia leaders, and deputies still reside in homes and palaces belonging to the Iraqi state, illegally and without renting from the state, but rather through personal relationships and political interests.
Previous Iraqi governments, specifically the governments of Haider al-Abadi and Adel Abdul-Mahdi, sought to [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] , in which the family of the late President Saddam Hussein and those close to him and officials in the regime that was overthrown by the United States in 2003 used to live, but to no avail.
It was supposed to return to the state and transform it into government centers, bodies, and buildings, but current officials and party leaders enjoy it, according to observers, in a way that is not much different from the pre-2003 era.
Specifically, the palaces and luxurious homes located within the borders of the Green Zone and the vicinity of Baghdad Clock were acquired by officials and politicians from the American forces that subjected those areas to their authority after the occupation of Baghdad. The year 2009, in particular, was the year when those buildings and palaces were transferred from the custody of the American forces to the government of Nouri al-Maliki, which in turn distributed them to different political leaders.
Iraqi officials, some of whom do not even have a job in the state, refuse to leave these homes, which the Iraqis consider "conquered by force," despite the many demands issued by activists, journalists, and jurists, while officials do not respond to judicial decisions issued earlier, which decided to [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] and the symbols of his regime, and handing them over to the Ministry of Finance. Officials justify their presence in these homes as "in a fundamental and official way, by paying rents to the Iraqi state."
However, sources close to a religious party revealed that "the majority of the compounds that contain these houses, in Baghdad in particular, such as the Al-Qadisiyah complex and within the borders of the Green Zone, do not pay any sums to the state, rather the officials exchange these houses between each other. Sometimes these houses are given as gifts." From an official or party leader to another, as is the case in a house in the Qadisiyah neighborhood that was gifted by the head of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, Pavel Talabani, to the leader of the Babylonian movement, Rayan al-Kaldani.
According to the same sources, "the ministers, heads of parliamentary blocs, and leaders of armed factions all live in state-owned homes without any official papers to rent them, and there are political figures without positions, but the political reality and agreements dictated that they always be close to decision-making sources, such as Haider al-Abadi and Adel Abd." Al-Mahdi, Nouri Al-Maliki, Baqir Jabr Al-Zubaidi, Salim Al-Jubouri, Mahmoud Al-Mashhadani, and others.
And the sources indicated that "the matter applies to large and luxurious apartments inside [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] , as some of them have been seized by former deputies who have strong ties to the current symbols of power."
And he added, in an interview with Al-Araby Al-Jadeed: "We talked about this a lot, but no party can force them to leave these houses, even though they are marked by their affiliation with the Baath regime, but rather they settle in them without right."
Anouz added, "Some officials have taken possession of these houses. There is talk of some of them transferring their ownership from the state or some symbols of Saddam Hussein's regime to the brothers, relatives, and wives of some of the occupiers, through fraud and forgery." He points out that "controlling in this way the capabilities and property of the Iraqi state is an authoritarian method for which all these officials will pay the price, as did those before them."
Among these properties is one of the houses that was seized by the head of the National Coalition, Iyad Allawi, but he issued a statement saying that he "pays an exorbitant rent for the house he lives in in the capital, Baghdad."
As for the political activist in Baghdad, Ayoub Muhammad, he points out that "the acquisition of homes began at the hands of the parties after 2003, then to the armed factions, and not all of them belong to the state. Rather, there are properties belonging to Iraqis of all sects, but Christians have been affected more than others, Especially their property on the Rusafa side of Baghdad, which has turned into partisan headquarters and other factions of the Popular Mobilization Forces.
Muhammad confirms, in an interview with Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, that "all parties seize homes, palaces, and buildings, and there are political parties that prevent Iraqi families in exile from returning to the country to sell their property, and use these properties as warehouses in the worst cases, and as sleeping places for their guests from their organizations in the provinces." ".
One of the most prominent figures who today seize public and private property in Baghdad is Iyad Allawi, who acquired several houses on Al-Zaytoun Street in Baghdad. As for the head of the "Al-Hikma" movement, Ammar Al-Hakim, he controls the house of former Foreign Minister Tariq Aziz in Al-Jadriya.
The head of the State of Law Coalition, Nuri al-Maliki, also takes over the Venetian Palace, while [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] , and other officials who are spread out in other neighborhoods, including the Council of Ministers in al-Qadisiyah, which includes deputies in Parliament is like Hussein Arabs, and two former members of the Talabani family.
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
Previous Iraqi governments, specifically the governments of Haider al-Abadi and Adel Abdul-Mahdi, sought to [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] , in which the family of the late President Saddam Hussein and those close to him and officials in the regime that was overthrown by the United States in 2003 used to live, but to no avail.
Houses and mansions seized
There are dozens of large houses and palaces in the capital, Baghdad, including in the neighborhoods of Al-Jadriya, Karrada, Karrada Maryam, the Green Zone, Al-Qadisiyah, Al-Yarmouk, and Al-Harithiya, which are complexes that were previously established during the time of Saddam Hussein, and are still used by officials.It was supposed to return to the state and transform it into government centers, bodies, and buildings, but current officials and party leaders enjoy it, according to observers, in a way that is not much different from the pre-2003 era.
Specifically, the palaces and luxurious homes located within the borders of the Green Zone and the vicinity of Baghdad Clock were acquired by officials and politicians from the American forces that subjected those areas to their authority after the occupation of Baghdad. The year 2009, in particular, was the year when those buildings and palaces were transferred from the custody of the American forces to the government of Nouri al-Maliki, which in turn distributed them to different political leaders.
The buildings of Abu Nawas Street, Al-Jadriya, and Al-Karada Street were forcibly seized by party officials after they entered Baghdad in 2003, as their occupants left them and they are from the families of the country’s leaders and officials before the American invasion. The Iraqi Baath Party and security centers by those parties, and then by various armed factions.Most of the residents of the complexes do not pay the state any sums
Iraqi officials, some of whom do not even have a job in the state, refuse to leave these homes, which the Iraqis consider "conquered by force," despite the many demands issued by activists, journalists, and jurists, while officials do not respond to judicial decisions issued earlier, which decided to [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] and the symbols of his regime, and handing them over to the Ministry of Finance. Officials justify their presence in these homes as "in a fundamental and official way, by paying rents to the Iraqi state."
However, sources close to a religious party revealed that "the majority of the compounds that contain these houses, in Baghdad in particular, such as the Al-Qadisiyah complex and within the borders of the Green Zone, do not pay any sums to the state, rather the officials exchange these houses between each other. Sometimes these houses are given as gifts." From an official or party leader to another, as is the case in a house in the Qadisiyah neighborhood that was gifted by the head of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, Pavel Talabani, to the leader of the Babylonian movement, Rayan al-Kaldani.
According to the same sources, "the ministers, heads of parliamentary blocs, and leaders of armed factions all live in state-owned homes without any official papers to rent them, and there are political figures without positions, but the political reality and agreements dictated that they always be close to decision-making sources, such as Haider al-Abadi and Adel Abd." Al-Mahdi, Nouri Al-Maliki, Baqir Jabr Al-Zubaidi, Salim Al-Jubouri, Mahmoud Al-Mashhadani, and others.
And the sources indicated that "the matter applies to large and luxurious apartments inside [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] , as some of them have been seized by former deputies who have strong ties to the current symbols of power."
In the context, the rapporteur of the Legal Committee in Parliament, Muhammad Anouz, says, "The presence of political figures in luxurious homes and palaces inside the Green Zone and in vital neighborhoods in Baghdad, without real political work or a job in the state, is certainly an appropriation."Muhammad Anouz: No party can force the officials to leave these houses
And he added, in an interview with Al-Araby Al-Jadeed: "We talked about this a lot, but no party can force them to leave these houses, even though they are marked by their affiliation with the Baath regime, but rather they settle in them without right."
Anouz added, "Some officials have taken possession of these houses. There is talk of some of them transferring their ownership from the state or some symbols of Saddam Hussein's regime to the brothers, relatives, and wives of some of the occupiers, through fraud and forgery." He points out that "controlling in this way the capabilities and property of the Iraqi state is an authoritarian method for which all these officials will pay the price, as did those before them."
Confiscation of funds and seizure of property
In 2018, the Accountability and Justice Commission, which was charged with following up on the file of the Iraqi regime before 2003, issued two decisions: the first included confiscating the funds of 52 people close to Saddam Hussein, and the second included seizing the property of 4,257 officials of that era.Among these properties is one of the houses that was seized by the head of the National Coalition, Iyad Allawi, but he issued a statement saying that he "pays an exorbitant rent for the house he lives in in the capital, Baghdad."
As for the political activist in Baghdad, Ayoub Muhammad, he points out that "the acquisition of homes began at the hands of the parties after 2003, then to the armed factions, and not all of them belong to the state. Rather, there are properties belonging to Iraqis of all sects, but Christians have been affected more than others, Especially their property on the Rusafa side of Baghdad, which has turned into partisan headquarters and other factions of the Popular Mobilization Forces.
Muhammad confirms, in an interview with Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, that "all parties seize homes, palaces, and buildings, and there are political parties that prevent Iraqi families in exile from returning to the country to sell their property, and use these properties as warehouses in the worst cases, and as sleeping places for their guests from their organizations in the provinces." ".
One of the most prominent figures who today seize public and private property in Baghdad is Iyad Allawi, who acquired several houses on Al-Zaytoun Street in Baghdad. As for the head of the "Al-Hikma" movement, Ammar Al-Hakim, he controls the house of former Foreign Minister Tariq Aziz in Al-Jadriya.
The head of the State of Law Coalition, Nuri al-Maliki, also takes over the Venetian Palace, while [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] , and other officials who are spread out in other neighborhoods, including the Council of Ministers in al-Qadisiyah, which includes deputies in Parliament is like Hussein Arabs, and two former members of the Talabani family.
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
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