BAGHDAD—Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi condemned recent protests in the capital Baghdad in a statement on Friday, calling demonstrator attacks on public institutions and political party offices, including his Dawa Party in Najaf “a criminal act’ especially when government troops are busy fighting terrorism.
“At a time when our forces are making progress in Falluja and scoring victories to return our occupied land to the beloved homeland, some unknown groups are burning offices of the political entities under name of demonstrations,” Abadi said.
Abadi’s remarks come a day after protestors attacked and torched the office of the Dawa Party in Najaf.
The Iraqi premier warned protestors against attacking government institutions or offices of political parties.
“We are from the land of holy war between Iraq and terrorism and strongly warn those take reckless and criminal actions against any public institutions or offices of any political entities,” he said. “We will strongly stand against those cross the line of the public system and attack civilians.”
Head of the Dawa Party and former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki described the attack political party offices in Najaf and other parts of the country including Baghdad as criminal “and the work of gangsters,”
The Iraqi capital has seen waves of public protests in recent months and attacks on its parliament and government compound in the central Green Zone area.
According to Abadi, the attacks on political party offices were carried out by “unknown armed men,” but the public protests have been largely organized by the Sadr movement and its leader Muqtada al-Sadr.
“We ask the political parties to condemn and reject the shameful acts and we ask the patriotic protesters to declare their innocence and not get involved in acts that lead to casualties and make people nervous and horrified,” said Abadi.
