Iraqi writer says parliament failed to pursue corruption files

ANBAR, Iraq — Iraqi writer Ali Qasim al-Kaabi has accused Iraq's parliament of failing to follow up on corruption cases exposed by the so-called "Dawn Operation," saying lawmakers neglected to question what happened to public funds. In a column, Kaabi argued that parliamentary committees responsible for examining corruption files have themselves turned into "giants of corruption," a claim he said the judiciary has documented. Kaabi also criticized parliament for failing to carry out its legislative and oversight functions, noting that its annual budget runs into billions of dollars while important draft laws are postponed every session. He wrote that decisions inherited from previous terms and widely seen as unjust remain in force, leaving those placed on a "red-card" blacklist still affected. He further accused lawmakers who oppose anti-corruption campaigns of shielding allies implicated in corruption. The column adds to longstanding criticism of Iraq's parliament over its handling of financial and administrative corruption allegations.