Iraq's Islamic Supreme Council chief calls for sustained anti-corruption campaign

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Sheikh Humam Hamoudi, head of the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq, has called on authorities to sustain the country's anti-corruption campaign and turn it into a comprehensive project detached from political rivalries. Speaking at the Dialogue Forum, Hamoudi welcomed operations described as the "Dawn Operation," saying such moves were necessary to cleanse the political process. Hamoudi attributed the roots of corruption to the legacy of the post-2003 occupation, arguing that conditions were created for the plundering of state institutions and that certain figures rose to prominence during that period. He also raised the northern oil file, questioning where government oversight bodies, financial control mechanisms and parliamentary monitoring were as recent corruption cases came to light. The official stressed that the fight against corruption should not be limited to security operations, and called for a cultural shift anchored in educational institutions. He also urged tighter oversight of election spending and measures to prevent opportunists from reaching decision-making positions, noting that Iraq's political system is sustained by the constitution and the backing of the religious authority.