The commemoration of the 12th anniversary of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein’s death sparked tensions between Baghdad and Amman.
The annual commemorations held in Jordan have long provoked the majority of Iraqis, especially Shiites. The celebrations have sparked calls to sever ties with Jordan because Iraqis believe that honoring his memory is a “disservice to the victims who died under his rule.”
In addition, Baghdad has expressed reservations to Jordan’s harboring since 2003 of some of Saddam’s relatives, including his oldest daughter Raghad.
This year, the criticism took on an official tone, with Iraqi lawmakers labeling the celebrations a “provocation.”
MP Alia Nassif, of former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s parliamentary bloc, urged the Iraqi government to “obligate Jordan to respect the will of the Iraqi people and refrain from holding celebrations that glorify the former regime.”
If the Jordanian government justifies such behavior by claiming that they are not held by official parties, it should at least allow security forces to bar these gatherings that are insulting to the Iraqi people, she continued.
Jordanian MP Khaled Ramadan condemned such demands, saying any Jordanian institution has the right to organize an event as granted by the constitution.
No lawmaker has the right to dictate to Jordan what its permissible or prohibited to it, he added.
MP Nidal al-Taani dismissed Nassif’s statements, saying they will not affect ties between Amman and Baghdad.
Any disputes should be addressed through diplomatic means, he stressed.
Iraqi MP Wajih Abbas countered these statements, saying: “Saddam committed crimes against the Iraqi people. Our government should have taken a stronger stand against the successive insults by some Jordanians.”
“Democracy should respect the feelings of Iraqis and not push Jordan to insult them under the excuse of freedom of expression,” he added.
Jordanian Prime Minister Omar al-Razzaz had last week paid an official visit to Iraq where he held talks on bolstering trade and political and security cooperation. A significant agreement was reached to use Aqaba port into a platform for Iraqi oil exports.
