Arrests of Finance Minister Rafie al‑Issawi’s Bodyguards Trigger Sectarian Protests Amid Iraq’s Constitutional Crisis

Arrests of Finance Minister Rafie al‑Issawi’s Bodyguards Trigger Sectarian Protests Amid Iraq’s Constitutional Crisis The passage links the arrest of security personnel for a senior Sunni minister to a cascade of sectarian protests and a power vacuum after President Talabani’s stroke. It provides concrete dates, names, and a chain of events that could be pursued for deeper investigation into possible political manipulation by Prime Minister Maliki, but it lacks direct evidence of illicit financial flows or foreign involvement, limiting its blockbuster potential. Key insights: Bodyguards of Finance Minister Rafie al‑Issawi arrested on Dec. 20 for alleged terrorism.; Issawi, a Sunni technocrat, was previously targeted by Maliki after the arrest of Vice President Tariq al‑Hashimi’s security detail.; Mass protests erupted in multiple cities within days, culminating in a highway blockade to Syria and Jordan.