Anti government protesters march through downtown Baghdad, defy security forces
BAGHDAD, Iraq— New rounds of mass demonstrations rocked the central parts of the Iraqi capital on Friday with thousands of protesters marching toward Baghdad’s Freedom Square shortly after Friday prayers despite riot-police earlier warning this week against continued gatherings.
Dozens were detained on Wednesday after police attempted to disperse a large rally in Baghdad who called for the resignation of Prime Minister Haidar Abadi’s cabinet.
“This is a corrupt government with no respect for the suffering of the Iraqi people, whether Shiites or Sunnis,” said one activist who expected the protests to continue in the coming days.
Friday’s demonstration had also attracted Sunni protesters with several tribal leaders present in the square, chanting along the protesters in a rare sign of solidarity with their Shiite countrymen.
The demonstrators called on the supreme Shiite cleric Ali Sistani to lend support to the demonstrations and denounce what they called “a corrupt government.”
They also called on the young colourful Shiite cleric Muqtada Sadr to resume leadership of the protests.
Sadr, who has in the past been an outspoken critic of the Shiite-led government and formidably led protests in the Iraqi capital last year, have so far been absent in the new demonstrations. Earlier in December Sardr met with Prime Minister Abadi which his office described as a “constructive meeting.”
Iraq is expected to hold general elections in April next year despite the ISIS war which has displaced an estimated 3 million people, many of whom will most likely lose their right to vote.
Iraq’s High Electoral Commission has announced that the vote will be postponed in war afflicted areas such as Mosul and Kirkuk province due to “extraordinary circumstances.”
Iraq’s former Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki who is also the leader of the ruling Shiite Dawa Party is expected to be a powerful contender for the post of premiership next year.
Dozens were detained on Wednesday after police attempted to disperse a large rally in Baghdad who called for the resignation of Prime Minister Haidar Abadi’s cabinet.
“This is a corrupt government with no respect for the suffering of the Iraqi people, whether Shiites or Sunnis,” said one activist who expected the protests to continue in the coming days.
Friday’s demonstration had also attracted Sunni protesters with several tribal leaders present in the square, chanting along the protesters in a rare sign of solidarity with their Shiite countrymen.
The demonstrators called on the supreme Shiite cleric Ali Sistani to lend support to the demonstrations and denounce what they called “a corrupt government.”
They also called on the young colourful Shiite cleric Muqtada Sadr to resume leadership of the protests.
Sadr, who has in the past been an outspoken critic of the Shiite-led government and formidably led protests in the Iraqi capital last year, have so far been absent in the new demonstrations. Earlier in December Sardr met with Prime Minister Abadi which his office described as a “constructive meeting.”
Iraq is expected to hold general elections in April next year despite the ISIS war which has displaced an estimated 3 million people, many of whom will most likely lose their right to vote.
Iraq’s High Electoral Commission has announced that the vote will be postponed in war afflicted areas such as Mosul and Kirkuk province due to “extraordinary circumstances.”
Iraq’s former Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki who is also the leader of the ruling Shiite Dawa Party is expected to be a powerful contender for the post of premiership next year.