The Iraqi Council of Representatives has ordered a forceful investigation into seven major systemic corruption files, ranging from tax embezzlement to fraudulent defense contracts. This crackdown follows the lifting of immunity for several lawmakers, marking a significant step against widespread corruption in public institutions.

The Parliament said in a statement late Thursday that, “For many long years, the plague of corruption has been eating away at the core of our state, turning into the single greatest threat to our political system.”

The statement criticized past anti-corruption efforts as empty political slogans that failed to produce real results, noting that previous reform plans were often manipulated to shield the guilty and facilitate the theft of public wealth.

Iraq Enters 'New Chapter' as Parliament Strip Immunity for Graft Arrests 

“This changed at the dawn of Sunday, June 28, 2026. This day marked the beginning of a fresh chapter. It brings new hope and a brighter future for our proud people,” the parliament stressed.

Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi's anti-corruption crackdown has led to the arrest of dozens of high-profile Iraqi officials and the seizure of millions in illicit wealth following parliament's decision to strip lawmakers of legal immunity.

The sweeping campaign has resulted in the arrest of at least 67 high-profile figures, including current and former lawmakers alongside senior officials.

Speaker Haibat al-Halbousi earlier called the corruption a "crime against the nation," stressing that there is no immunity for anyone when public money is stolen. 

The Parliament stated that its responsible decision to lift legal immunity from several lawmakers served as the essential foundation for launching the anti-corruption initiative, noting that the campaign could not have started without this crucial step.

Parliament Mandates Probe Into Seven High-Risk Corruption Sectors 

To protect state assets and halt the waste of public money, the Parliament has ordered the government to forcefully dismantle the entire system of corruption by opening the most critical files under strict deadlines. 

The sweeping investigation targets seven core sectors, beginning with major tax embezzlement cases like the historic "Theft of the Century" and extending into energy corruption involving trillion-dinar electricity contracts and unfair power plant investments.

Furthermore, the crackdown tackles fraudulent housing, industrial, commercial, and educational investment licenses alongside severe contract inflation in the construction sector. 

The probe also covers systemic graft within public and private hospitals, fraudulent medicine imports, and transport fraud in port operations and national railways. 

Finally, authorities are investigating fake weaponry contracts and dysfunctional military equipment within both the Defense and Interior Ministries.