Banners praising Sadr now appearing inside Iraqi parliament

Anniversary tributes to the older cleric, who was killed in 1999 under Saddam Hussein’s regime, are common around Shiite areas of the country, but in Parliament the banners send a more partisan message, say members of rival parties to the Sadrists.

“This is a government institution that should not have signs like this,” said Mohammed Gessim, office manager for Tawafiq, a Sunni Arab political alliance. “The Sadrists want to show that they are in control and are taking control of the place.”…

Others in the parliament building said they objected to the posters but feared retribution if they criticized them in the media.