تکتم شهرستانی

The present research aims to examine the opportunities and challenges of Shia's culture and religion in the political development process in Iraq after Saddam. The research method is de-scriptive-analytical, and the results indicate that post-Saddam Iraq provided a new opportunity for Shia to participate in power and incorporate their cultural and religious components into governance and forward-looking politics. Shia religion, due to its distinct principles of justice and imamate, sets it apart from other Islamic sects, principles that result in rationality, dy-namic jurisprudence, and freedom, aligning with political development. The approaches of Shia authorities in recent years indicate the existence of rationality as a key element and indi-cator of political development. The attention of the people and obedience to the institution of authority in various fatwas and numerous crises witnessed by Iraq are evidence of political maturity and the growth of customary reasoning among the Shia community in Iraq. Howev-er, Shia in Iraq, due to years of staying away from power, lack of political governance experi-ence, different interpretations of Shia jurisprudence regarding intervention and participation in politics, and realities of society and the international system imposed on Shia culture, have not been entirely in harmony with the Western concept of political development with Shia religious components in this post-Saddam era.