The head of the Supreme Judicial Council, Faik Zidan, affirmed today, Wednesday, that the current government has a genuine will to combat corruption, noting that there is no pause or slowdown in pursuing those involved, regardless of their positions, and that there are no red lines before the judiciary, which relies on evidence rather than circulating accusations.
Zidan said during a session titled "The Iraqi Judiciary and the Future of Political Stability," held by Chatham House in London and followed by the News Video Agency, that "the current government has a genuine will to combat corruption, and this rising will is reflected in the efforts to combat corruption across the country," noting that "for the first time we are witnessing such a large number of individuals accused in corruption cases, including politicians, parliament members, ministers, and other officials, which has not been seen in previous stages in Iraq."
He added that "the current government’s will to combat corruption exceeds what it was in previous stages, especially after the spread of corruption cases and the clear negative effects they left on the country," affirming that "this will is continuously rising, and the judiciary's efforts to combat corruption are ongoing, with no red lines before it in any case."
Zidan stressed that "there is no pause or slowdown in the anti-corruption campaign, but its continuation does not mean the arrest of a group of parliament members daily; rather, it depends on the presence of cases and evidence proving the commission of crimes."
He continued that "the judiciary does not classify the accused based on their positions into minor or major, but rather looks at the crime and the available evidence," affirming that "if the crime is proven with evidence, the judiciary will not be restrained in any limit, regardless of the title or position of the accused."
He clarified that "the anti-corruption campaign has reached members of the parliament and ministers," pointing out that "the judiciary does not issue its rulings based on discussions and circulating accusations but needs legal evidence proving that a crime has been committed."
He indicated that "success in combating corruption depends on the strength of the executive and investigative agencies and their will to uncover corruption files," explaining that "the work of these agencies remains just ink on paper without a judicial authority that has the power to summon and detain the accused, and the judiciary's decisions remain just ink on paper in the absence of executive agencies capable of implementing them."
He noted that "the Iraqi judiciary has achieved significant results in corruption files according to the law," considering that "the achievements realized in Iraq in this field may not be achieved by another Arab state through the same legal means, as Iraq relied on the law and the judiciary, based on the principle of separation of powers that the Iraqi constitutional system is built upon."
He confirmed that "the judiciary has proven its ability to combat corruption and hold those involved accountable, regardless of their positions," expressing his regret "over the involvement of some members of the political class in corruption cases, despite their primary responsibility being to protect and manage state funds and spend them in a manner that serves the country's development."
He pointed out that "those involved in corruption from the political class represent a small part of it, not the majority."