Al-Sadr denies backing any party in Iraq elections, reiterates boycott
Shafaq News – Najaf (Updated at 17:01)
Muqtada al-Sadr, leader of the Patriotic Shiite Movement (PSM), on Tuesday distanced his movement from Iraq’s parliamentary elections, dismissing claims of party endorsements as lies.
In a post on X, al-Sadr affirmed that “any party or figure claiming our support in the current elections is a liar,” adding that “whoever believes them is either deluded or an infiltrator who has nothing to do with us.”
— مقتدى السيد محمد الصدر (@Mu_AlSadr) November 11, 2025
“We will not join their corruption, subservience, or uncontrolled weapons.”
Earlier today, al-Sadr renewed his call to boycott the elections. “I’ve turned away from those who reject reform and betray the homeland,” he declared in a statement, adding, “The tried should not be tried again.”
Read more: Iraq's political enigma: The unpredictable maneuvers of Muqtada al-Sadr
The PSM has stayed out of politics since 2022, when al-Sadr withdrew his 73 lawmakers from parliament in protest of what he called entrenched corruption and political gridlock.
His remarks came as Iraqis headed to the polls for the country’s sixth general parliamentary elections since 2005. Nearly 20 million voters are eligible to elect 329 representatives from over 7,000 candidates running across 37 alliances and coalitions nationwide.
Read more: Iraq’s 2025 poll: +21M voters, new law, fading monitors, and fierce bloc rivalries
