ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – The alliances of Iraq’s top Shiite leaders - Nouri al-Maliki and Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani - on Sunday expressed support for a sweeping anti-graft crackdown led by Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, calling for the recovery of stolen public funds.

In a statement, the Reconstruction and Development Coalition of former Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani expressed its “full support” for government measures against corruption, saying it backs the referral of corruption-related cases to the judiciary in accordance with constitutional and legal procedures.

“We emphasize that this campaign must continue until its objectives are fully achieved, foremost among them the recovery of all plundered funds to the state treasury and the prosecution of corrupt individuals according to the law,” head of the coalition’s parliamentary bloc, Bahaa al-Araji said on X.

The coalition said it supports actions taken by the government, the Supreme Judicial Council and relevant authorities against those subject to official arrest warrants, stressing the importance of upholding the rule of law and judicial independence.

Separately, the State of Law Coalition of Nouri al-Maliki, another former prime minister, announced its “full support” for measures taken by the government in cooperation with oversight and judicial bodies as part of what it described as a national campaign to combat corruption and pursue those involved.

“The spread of corruption and the looting of state and public funds has undermined many vital projects, drained the country’s resources and deprived citizens of their rights to services and development,” the coalition said in a statement.

The State of Law Coalition also called for the continuation of the campaign until all stolen funds are recovered and those found guilty are held accountable under the law, while thanking the heads of the judiciary and government for their support of anti-corruption efforts.

In a post on X, Maliki congratulated Zaidi on the anti-corruption campaign.

“Pursue this mission until the end, as it is a long-awaited step from the Iraqi people,” Maliki said.

Iraqi state media said 47 lawmakers and senior officials were detained on corruption charges as part of the campaign.

Despite Sudani’s alliance expressing support for the campaign, several of the arrested individuals have links to the former prime minister.

Among those arrested was Ibrahim al-Sumaidaie, a senior advisor to former Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani, according to Iraqi state media.

Authorities also detained Sunni Azm Alliance leader Muthanna al-Samarrai, four Azm lawmakers, Mohammed al-Karbouli, Ziad al-Janabi, Hind al-Abbasi, and Mudhar al-Karawi, as well as lawmaker Mohammed Jamil al-Mayahi, the former governor of Wasit. Oil ministry undersecretary Ali Ma’arij al-Bahadli was also arrested.

The crackdown began when Iraqi security forces, primarily counter-terrorism units, entered Baghdad’s heavily fortified Green Zone overnight on Sunday and began carrying out sweeping raids. 

The Green Zone is home to the US embassy and other diplomatic missions, as well as the residences of many high-ranking politicians.