
ISHM: November 9 – 16, 2023
Key Takeaways: Iraq’s Federal Supreme Court Removes Parliament Speaker Halbousi From Office – On November 14, Iraq’s Federal Supreme Court issued a ruling, final and not subject to appeal, terminating the tenure of parliament speaker Mohammed al-Halbousi. The ruling was in response to charges filed by Laith al-Dulaimi, a former lawmaker, and once member of Halbousi’s Taqaddum party, who was stripped of his parliamentary seat by Halbousi in January. In his case, Dulaimi, argued that Halbousi had forged a resignation letter signed by Dulaimi and used it to remove him from parliament. In a statement announcing the verdict on Tuesday, a member of the Court said that investigations confirmed the forgery allegations. Three government ministers from Halbousi’s party, those of Planning, Industry, and Culture, submitted their resignations in protest. Other party lawmakers resigned from the parliamentary committees they chair, including those of higher education, oil and gas, and integrity. Halbousi