Two sentenced to death for killing Iraqi protestor

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Two men accused of killing an Iraqi protestor during nationwide demonstrations that broke out in late 2019 were handed a death sentence by a court in Basra province, state media reported on Tuesday.

The suspects “confessed to the details of the crime of killing a citizen after they shot him while participating in the October demonstrations,” the media department of Basra criminal court said, INA reported.

The purpose of the assassination was to “destabilize the security and stability” of Iraq, it added.

The court did not provide details about the victim.

Iraqis took to the streets in large-scale protests, dubbed the Tishreen (October) movement, that called for an end to corruption, unemployment, and the provision of basic services. The protestors were met with excessive violence, tear gas canisters and live ammunition.

Demonstrators, activists and journalists have been targeted since the emergence of the protests and their killers have often acted with impunity as investigations yield little results.

Dijlah reporter Ahmad Abd al-Samad and his cameraman Safaa Ghali were shot dead whilst covering the demonstrations in the southern port city of Basra last year. Basra's criminal court sentenced their alleged killer to death on Monday.

Prominent activist Ihab al-Wazni was killed in Karbala in May of this year. The murder sparked outrage among activists and on social media. Activist and journalist Ali al-Mikdam was kidnapped and tortured in July, and was later freed.

At least 487 protestors were killed and over 7,000 were injured during the protests, the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) said last year.

Two sentenced to death for killing Iraqi protestor

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