Najaf Friday preacher warns against leniency in corruption cases

NAJAF, Iraq — Najaf's Friday preacher Sheikh Sadreddin Kubeyncangi has cautioned against draft arrangements that would reduce or waive sentences for corruption defendants in exchange for returning stolen funds, saying such a step risks encouraging repeat offenses. Delivering his Friday sermon, Kubeyncangi said the prospect of leniency for those implicated in corruption cases has caused serious public concern, even though it would reassure groups that support the anti-corruption drive. He argued that recovering the money alone, without applying legal penalties, would directly incentivize further corruption. The preacher called on the judiciary to treat all defendants equally and independently of pressure from the government, external actors or any other quarter. He tied the success of the corruption files operation, known locally as "Fajr," to judicial independence. Kubeyncangi's remarks came as the Supreme Judicial Council announced it had prepared a roadmap, in coordination with the Prime Minister's Office, offering legal leniency to corruption suspects who return embezzled funds. The council said the framework also draws on experience from previous cases, including the tax custody case known as "the theft of the century."