ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Shiite firebrand leader Moqtada al-Sadr called on Iraqis to stage a massive demonstration against official corruption this week, urging authorities to heed public demands for clean government.
“Muqtada al-Sadr calls on the followers of his party and the people of Iraq to pour into streets to fight corruption and punish the corrupt on Friday,” said a statement read in a televised speech by spokesman Salah al-Obeidi in the holy city of Najaf.
“Sadr has urged the government to hear the people’s demands,” he said.
"We announce to all people, and to the Sadrists in particular, the need to participate in protests this Friday in Baghdad,” Obeidi said. "The Sadrist participants should merge with the other protesters in a single, national Iraqi crucible.”
Obaidi said that demonstrators should refrain from accusing individuals and focus instead on calling for improvements in basic services such as electricity, water and education.
Protesters in Baghdad took to the streets about a month ago, demanding the government fight corruption and punish officials guilty of graft.
Following the protests, Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi announced a series of cost-cutting reforms, slashing deputy positions in the presidency and premiership as well as in government. He also reduced the excessive number of official bodyguards.
