ERBIL — Iraqi Shia cleric and leader of the Sadrist Movement, Muqtada al-Sadr, on Tuesday criticized President Barham Salih for not signing a law criminalizing the normalization of ties with Israel.
"It is very shameful that the so-called President of the Republic of Iraq refused to sign the law," Sadr wrote on Twitter. "It is shameful for the people that their president is a supporter of normalization and is not patriotic but rather subservient to the West or the East."
"I am innocent of this crime before God and the Iraqi people," the Shia cleric added. "I regret his candidacy for the presidency before and after."
The Iraqi Council of Representatives last month passed a bill that criminalizes any normalization of relations with Israel.
Out of 329 parliament members, 275 lawmakers voted in favor of the proposed law and it was unanimously approved by the assembly.
Following the passing of the bill, Sadr, who pushed for the legislation, urged Iraqi people to publicly celebrate the occasion.