Iraqi MP Barred From Travel, Faces Prosecution Over Israel Visit

Iraq’s Parliament announced that it has stripped outspoken Sunni MP Mithal al-Alusi of his legal immunity and also barred him from traveling outside of the country or attending future sessions of parliament today. It also says that it intends to see Alusi prosecuted for the crime of “visiting a country that Iraq considers an enemy”.

At issue is a visit last week by Alusi, the chairman of Iraq’s tiny Democratic Party, to a conference in Israel. During the appearance he gave a brief talk at the podium calling for increased cooperation between Iraq and Israel, and a joint intelligence network combining Iraq, Israel, the United States, Jordan, Turkey, and Kuwait.

Alusi also condemned Iran for meddling in Iraqi affairs, and accused the Iranian ambassador of attempting to bribe him in return for his party’s cooperation. This charge seems an incredible one, given Alusi’s long-standing reputation as a supporter of ties with Israel, his blaming of the sectarian strife on Shi’ite militias, and public criticism of of influential Shi’ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr. Alusi claims that it was his criticism of Iran that sparked the move by parliament. More

Iraqi MP seeks ties with Israel