Iraq arrested 12 sitting MPs accused of using state resources for their campaigns
On 28 June 2026 Iraqi security forces raided Baghdad's Green Zone and other governorates, and state media said 47 people were arrested, including 12 sitting members of parliament, a former legislator, a former adviser to ex-Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani and a senior oil ministry official. Investigative judge Diaa Jaafar of Iraq's central anti-corruption court said the probe found a group of legislators had exploited state resources for election campaigns and benefited from government contracts, and that Parliament Speaker Haibet al-Halbousi lifted the lawmakers' immunity. The arrests were based on a statement by former Deputy Oil Minister Adnan al-Jumaili, who had been arrested a month earlier. The specific accusations were not immediately clear. On 23 September 2026, The National reported that an anti-corruption court in Baghdad sentenced two female MPs, described as among those detained in the June raids, to seven years in prison for illicit enrichment.
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arrested 47 people including 12 sitting lawmakers
Iraqi security forces sealed off the Green Zone and arrested 47 people including 12 sitting lawmakers; investigative judge Diaa Jaafar said the probe uncovered exploitation of state resources for electioneering and personal commissions from government contracts.
carrying out coordinated raids across Baghdad's Green Zone and several other governorates ... the arrests of dozens of politicians, lawmakers, and senior government officials.
sentenced two female MPs to seven years in prison for illicit enrichment
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The Central Anti-Corruption Criminal Court sentenced Azm Alliance head Muthana al-Samarrai to six years and a 30 billion dinar fine, and sitting MP Ziad al-Janabi to five years and a 4 billion dinar fine; both were arrested in the June crackdown. Source ↗
The Central Specialized Anti-Corruption Court sentenced MP Mohammed Farman al-Jubouri to seven years for illicit enrichment, ordered repayment and fines of about 28.16 billion dinars and seized his assets, in a case arising from the June 28 operation. Source ↗
The anti-corruption court sentenced former deputy oil minister Ali al-Bahadli and former MP Talal al-Zubaie, both detained in the June raids, to seven years each for illicit gains, with repayment orders and equal fines. Source ↗