The Turkish Foreign Ministry warns against traveling to Baghdad

On Tuesday, the Turkish Foreign Ministry warned its citizens against traveling to the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, against the backdrop of the deteriorating security situation there.

The ministry said in a statement that it recommends that Turkish citizens avoid traveling to Baghdad, except in necessary cases, given the turbulent security situation there.

The statement also called on Turkish citizens present in Iraq to stay away from gatherings and areas where demonstrations are taking place, and to follow up on the statements of the Ministry and the Turkish Embassy in Baghdad.

She stressed the need to exercise caution and caution to ensure personal safety.

The ministry shared contact information with the Turkish Embassy in Baghdad and the Consular Communication Center at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to communicate if necessary.

And yesterday, Monday, the leader of the Sadrist movement in Iraq, Muqtada al-Sadr, announced his retirement from political work permanently and the closure of all his institutions, two days after he proposed that all political parties step down to put an end to the crisis in the country.

Subsequently, 13 Sadrist demonstrators were killed and more than 350 were injured in an atmosphere of security chaos in the center of the capital, Baghdad and other provinces, since al-Sadr announced his final retirement from political work.

As a result, the Joint Operations Command in Iraq announced the imposition of a comprehensive curfew in the capital, Baghdad.

Iraq is witnessing a political crisis that has intensified since last July 30, when followers of the Sadrist movement began a sit-in, which is still ongoing, inside the Green Zone in Baghdad, rejecting the nomination of the “coordinating framework” coalition, Muhammad Shia Al-Sudani for the position of prime minister, and demanding the dissolution of the parliament and the holding of early elections.

Differences between political forces, especially Shiite ones, have prevented the formation of a new government since the last elections on October 10, 2021.