Islamic Virtue Party

Islamic Virtue Party (Al-Fadhila Party) is an Iraqi political party. It follows ayatollah Muhammad Ya`qubi a student of Mohammad Sadeq al-Sadr and thus represent a branch of the Sadrist Movement, however the party is not affiliated with Muqtada al-Sadr and is in fact a rival to his branch of the Sadrists.^[1][2] Its support comes mostly from the Shi'a poor in the south of the country.

Its current secretary general is Abdelrahim Al-Husseini who in May 2006 replaced, Nadim al-Jabiri.^[3] Another prominent member of the party is Mohammed al-Waili who formerly served as the governor of Basra province.

It took part in Iraqi legislative election in January 2005 and December 2005 as part of the United Iraqi Alliance list. Following the December 2005 legislative election the party holds 15 seats in the Iraqi parliament.

In May 2006 however the party pulled out of negotiations for a new Iraqi government, complaining of American interference. The party had hoped that the Oil and Trade Ministers would be named from the party.^[4][5]

In March 2007, the party withdrew from the ruling Shi'ite Coalition and has vowed to continue as an independent block. Nadim al-Jabiri announced that the move was caused by increasing sectarionism in Iraqi politics. This turn of events could pave the way for the Islamic Virtue Party to join Iyad Allawi's secular block of Sunni and Shi'ite parties.

In April 2007, SIIC successfully brought a no-confidence motion against Mohammed al-Waili in the Basrah Governorate Council. This dismissal was ratified by Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki in July, and meant the loss of their most important political position.^[6]

References