The Iraqi judiciary has acquitted former parliament speaker Mohammed al-Halbousi, who was dismissed in 2023 after being accused of forgery, his office said.
The Sunni politician became speaker of parliament in 2018, with the support of pro-Iranian parties, and was re-elected in 2022 after early elections.
In November 2023, Iraq's Supreme Court dismissed Halbusi after an MP accused him of falsifying his resignation by retroactively dating the document to force him to leave.
Halbusi's office said he had been acquitted by the Iraqi justice system, adding that appeals had been dismissed and the investigation had been closed.
As head of the Takadom party, Halbusi is known for his rapid rise in Iraqi political life and close relations with many Western and Arab officials.
The Iraqi parliament, which consists of 329 members, is dominated by a coalition of pro-Iranian Shiite parties.
Under the power-sharing system in place since the 2003 US invasion, the post of prime minister, currently held by Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, traditionally belongs to a Shiite Muslim, the post of president to a Kurd, and the post of speaker of parliament to a Sunni Muslim.
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