ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - Several Shiite tribes from central and southern Iraq have announced that they will be boycotting the upcoming parliamentary elections, in support of influential cleric Muqtada al-Sadr’s decision to sit the process out over ongoing “corruption”.

Sadr, who has been out of the Iraqi political scene since August 2022, on Thursday announced that he would not be participating in a “limping” electoral process, and called on his followers not to vote or run for office.

In support of Sadr’s call, many tribes have come forward with statements, declaring their intention to boycott the upcoming elections, including the Bani Tamim tribe, which consists of dozens of clans and is considered one of Iraq’s largest tribes.

“As we follow with great concern the rampant corruption and domination of the corrupt that our beloved country is going through, we declare our absolute support for the position of His Eminence the Leader Sayyid Muqtada al-Sadr (may God glorify him) in boycotting the elections,” read a statement from Sheikh Hajj Ridha al-Kanun al-Tamimi, chief of the Bani Tamim.

The tribe called on its members and “all honorable and free people” to join the boycott and not participate in an electoral process that “reproduces corruption and tyranny.”

The Bani Ka'ab tribe, one of the most prominent and influential tribes in southern Iraq, also announced that they will not be participating in the elections.

“We express our full support and backing for the decision of His Eminence Sayyid Muqtada al-Sadr to renew his decision to boycott the upcoming parliamentary elections,” read a statement from tribal chief Sheikh Khalid Jibr al-Ka'abi.

Dozens of other tribes and clans from central and southern Iraq have also announced their boycott in similar statements in recent days.

Iraq is set to hold parliamentary elections later this year, but no specific date has yet to be announced for the vote.

Sadr, whose movement emerged as the main victor from the 2021 Iraqi parliamentary elections after gaining 73 seats, ordered all his MPs to resign from the legislature in June 2022 after his attempts to form the next government were repeatedly blocked, mainly by the pro-Iran Shiite Coordination Framework.

In protest, Sadr’s supporters entered Baghdad’s fortified Green Zone, staging a sit-in for over a month before violent clashes broke out between them and supporters of the Coordination Framework in late August 2022, during which at least 23 people were killed and over 380 others were wounded.

Sadr announced his “definitive” retirement from politics shortly after the clashes.