Muqtada al-Sadr declared his resignation from politics due to the ongoing violence in Iraq. The international news agency reports that the political crisis surrounding the formation of the government in Iraq has been ongoing for several months. Following the impasse over the choice of the new prime minister, the Sadr members of parliament resigned. Muqtada al-Sadr declares in this respect that he “had resolved not to meddle in political things, today I announce my entire retirement and the closing of all al-Sadr institutions.” Numerous Muqtada al-Sadr activists are still seated in front of the parliament, according to media sources.