25/08/2022 (Agence Europe) – On Wednesday 24 August, the European External Action Service spokesperson explained the EU’s concerns regarding the obstruction of the work of crucial state institutions in Iraq. The Supreme Judicial Council, Iraq’s main judicial body, suspended its activities on 23 August after a sit in outside its gates in Baghdad, calling for the dissolution of parliament. “While the right to peaceful protests is essential to democracy, all laws and state institutions must operate to serve the Iraqi people”, the spokesperson warned, adding that judicial institutions must be able to carry out their functions without external pressure. He welcomed the steps taken to de-escalate the situation and urged all parties to resolve their differences through political dialogue and within the constitutional framework. (CG)