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The London-based Arab newspaper, titled “Drug dilemma mobilizes the spiritual authority of Iraq’s highest Shiite authority”, said that the dangerous transformation of Iraq’s drug trade and consumption requires the country’s highest authority, Ali Al-Sistani, to intervene after the authorities’ efforts have been effective, trying to limit the deterioration of this phenomenon and reduce its risks to society. Our ultimate hope is to fight this deadly epidemic, but we cannot succeed in stopping its progress and spread.
The newspaper said that this last step confirmed Sistani’s intervention at critical moments and in extremely dangerous events, similar to his intervention in 2014 when he issued the Full Jihad Order, under which thousands of Iraqis were mobilized and the Popular Mobilization Forces were formed to fight the Islamic State, which had invaded large parts of the country at the time.
The report adds that, in addition to the role that Sistani is expected to play in convincing the majority of Iraqis to give up taking narcotics on ideological grounds, he could also play an assisting role for official Iraqi institutions in: combating the networks that smuggle and promote these substances, since some parties involved in the drug trade have a great deal of influence in the country, sometimes even exceeding the power of the state itself, when it comes to Shiite armed factions that are linked to political parties and figures directly involved in the drug trade. Information about their use of the drug trade as a source of funding for their activities, especially the arming and expenses of militants, often emerges.
The report said the spread of the drug phenomenon, which has dangerous consequences for health, society, economy and security, is one aspect of the failure of the existing political system in Iraq after the US invasion, which is mainly led by religious parties that put forward moral slogans and promote the spread of social virtues.
Experts in the field of international drug control told the newspaper that armed militias, many of which are active inside Iraq, include many factions loyal to Iran, some of which are directly involved in the government through the framework of Shia coordination and have representatives under the dome of parliament who are involved in the services and propaganda of smuggling gangs through their affiliated groups.
Local sources confirmed that political parties and armed Iraqi militias often protect smugglers and facilitate their operations, which explains why the Basra border crossing between Iraq and Iran has been transformed into a major narcotics transit hub.
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