ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – A prominent activist in Basra died on Sunday after being shot by unknown gunmen the day before.
Sheikh Wisam Ghazrawi was an outspoken activist in the troubled province. He was fatally wounded in front of his house on Saturday.
Ghazrawi had reportedly called on protesters to take up arms in order to force local authorities and the government in Baghdad to implement their demands, Iraq’s Shafaq news reported.
He is alleged to have been one of the people behind the burning of the Iranian consulate in the city as well as offices of other political parties during protests this summer.
Basra was rocked by waves of deadly protests this year driven by public furor over corruption, crumbling infrastructure, contaminated water, and a lack of jobs.
In late September, Suad al-Ali, another activist involved in the protests, was also shot dead. She had been leading the al-Weed International Organization in Basra. No arrests have been made in the case.
Sheikh Wisam Ghazrawi was an outspoken activist in the troubled province. He was fatally wounded in front of his house on Saturday.
Ghazrawi had reportedly called on protesters to take up arms in order to force local authorities and the government in Baghdad to implement their demands, Iraq’s Shafaq news reported.
He is alleged to have been one of the people behind the burning of the Iranian consulate in the city as well as offices of other political parties during protests this summer.
Basra was rocked by waves of deadly protests this year driven by public furor over corruption, crumbling infrastructure, contaminated water, and a lack of jobs.
In late September, Suad al-Ali, another activist involved in the protests, was also shot dead. She had been leading the al-Weed International Organization in Basra. No arrests have been made in the case.
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