Middle East
Protesters gather at Tahrir Square during a demonstration in Baghdad on October 13, 2023 showing solidarity with Palestine. Photo: Ahmad Al-Rubaye/AFP
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Tens of thousands of supporters of Iraq’s influential Shiite figure Muqtada al-Sadr gathered at Baghdad’s Tahrir Square for “million-man” protests on Friday, in a mass display of solidarity with the Palestinian people in the wake of the recent escalation of violence in Gaza.
The rally came in response to Sadr’s call for “civil protests" on Monday, labeling it an "obligation" for all Iraqis and supporters of the Palestinian cause to demonstrate.
Protesters from across Iraq began arriving at the famed Square since Thursday evening.
Thousands of Iraqi and Palestinian flags were raised throughout the square, in addition to large Israeli flags that were later burned in a sign of condemnation.
“Our striving brothers in Gaza led a big battle that has embarrassed the oppressors and has embarrassed Israel and America,” Ibrahim Jabiri, head of Sadr office, told Rudaw’s Halkawt Aziz, adding that their demonstration was held in response to the “great victory” of the Palestinians.
The protesters called on all Arab and Muslim states to shut down Israeli embassies in their countries and criminalize normalization of ties with Israel, while chanting “No, no to Israel!”
In a speech delivered by Muhanad al-Musawi, a local Shiite cleric, Sadr called for the preparation of an aid convoy of food and water to be sent to the civilians in Gaza, after coordinating with either Syria or Egypt.
“And if we cannot [deliver the convoy], that is a stain of shame on ... Arab and Muslim history,” read the speech from Sadr.
Following the Friday prayers and sermon which were held at the square, Sadr took to X (formerly Twitter) to thank his “dear protesters.”
“Million-man” protests is a signature of Sadr and his supporters, honoring a tradition of Mohammed Sadiq al-Sadr, Sadr’s late father, who united masses of Shiites in Friday prayer, as a sign of opposition to the rule of fallen Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein.
Over 2,800 people have been reported dead on both sides since Saturday, when Hamas militants launched a multi-pronged air, ground, and sea offensive and infiltrated Israeli territory on Saturday at dawn, resulting in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s declaration the following day that the country was “embarking on a long and difficult war.”
The Israeli army has reported over 1,300 dead while Palestinian officials have placed their death toll at 1,537.
In a televised address on Tuesday, Sadr called on all Arab and Muslim states, especially Saudi Arabia and Iran, to make efforts to deliver food and water to civilians in Gaza after Israel cut off supply of the basic necessities in the strip. The Shiite cleric also called on Egypt, who shares diplomatic ties with Israel, to open the crossing border with Gaza to allow the delivery of aid to civilians.
“It is not important if the heroic Palestinian resistance fighter is a Shiite or a Sunni. It is not even important if he is a Muslim for us to support him, because fighting against the Zionist enemy is a pride, honor, and dignity,” said Sadr.
Updated at 3:54 PM
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