Iraqi MP accused of 'high treason' after saying he'd support US troops toppling current system

A political row and calls for legal persecution have erupted in Iraq after an independent member of parliament said during a television interview that he would back the US troops if they attempted to topple the current regime.

Sajjad Salem, an independent MP from Al-Kut city in eastern Iraq, said these remarks while answering a question during an interview with Al-Sumaria television channel aired on 10 September.

But he also ruled out any severe scenario considered by the US to try to overthrow the current ruling system in Iraq. 

In response to his remarks during that interview, supporters of the government, especially Iran-backed militias and parties, accused Salem of "high treason" and called on the parliament to vote to strip his immunity so Iraq's judiciary could prosecute him.

Mohammed al-Basri, a supporter of the Iran-backed groups in Iraq, on X, the social media platform formerly Twitter, called for the independent MP "to be brought to justice and punished with a death sentence on charges of high treason".

#اطردوا_سجاد_سالم_خائن_العراق ماقام به سجاد سالم يعتبر حنث باليمين الدستوري الذي اقسمه تحت قبة البرلمان ويعاقب عليه القانون الاعدام بتهمة الخيانة العظمى فعلى المحامين المراطنين رفع دعوة الحث باليمين لياخذ جزائه العادل pic.twitter.com/ElgOJGeSFS

— Sheikh محمد البصري (@mohammdalbasri) September 10, 2023

Other Iraqi social media users defended the lawmaker's speech, remarking on the irony of how the current ruling elites had come to power on the back of a US military intervention.

Salem had stoked ire before. The lawmaker had previously called for the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) to be dismantled and was sued by PMF officials for his comments. 

Recently, toppling Iraq's political system has been widely discussed among Iraqis, significantly when some controversial Iraqi politicians have predicted the proportional ruling system based on ethno-sectarian lines would collapse by early next year. 

Former US President George W. Bush, on 20 March 2003, announced the launch of "Operation Iraqi Freedom", kicking off a devastating invasion and occupation of Iraq. Three weeks later, on 9 April, the US-led coalition forces seized Baghdad.

The unilateral decision by the US-led coalition to invade and occupy Iraq was taken without permission from the United Nations Security Council over weapons of mass destruction that were never found. The prolonged occupation killed hundreds of thousands of people and displaced many more.

Twenty years since, Iraq has yet to see stability, true democracy and prosperity.