DUBAI, UAE - Nouri al-Maliki, head of the State of Law Coalition and former prime minister of Iraq, condemned recent encroachments on Iraqi authorities, calling them a “bad start” with potentially dangerous consequences. 

He urged political forces not to undermine the country’s political process or government through actions or media.

In remarks broadcast by the Iraqi state media on Thursday, Maliki warned that attacks on the judiciary, government, or parliament could lead to more severe repercussions than terrorism. “We trust the judiciary to resolve issues that require legal decisions,” he said.

Maliki cautioned against premature conclusions, emphasizing the need to await the results of judicial investigations before taking any further actions.

The former prime minister also called on political groups to refrain from weakening the political process or the government, either through actions or media, stating, “this is happening now, and it poses a serious risk to the stability of the country.”

The Iraqi government, through spokesperson Bassem al-Awadi, reiterated its commitment to upholding the law and respecting judicial decisions while refuting ongoing “misleading campaigns” aimed at obstructing its work. 

The statement, issued Sunday, emphasized the government's focus on combating corruption in close cooperation with judicial and legislative authorities.

This comes amid ongoing investigations into the “Mohammad Juhi Network,” a group allegedly involved in wiretapping the phones of Iraqi politicians and MPs. Seven individuals, including Juhi, a high-ranking official in the Prime Minister’s Office, have been arrested. 

The network is believed to have been formed during the tenure of former Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi. The government and judiciary have dismissed circulating information related to the investigation.