Death toll nears 100 as Iraq protestors vow to continue

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – The death toll in five days of protest across Iraq has climbed to 93, as unrest led to renewed calls for the removal of the current government, the ransacking of media outlet offices in Baghdad, and the vow of protestors to continue until their demands are concretely met. 

Iraq’s High Commission for Human Rights (IHCHR) member Hemin Bajalan provided Rudaw English with the latest casualty data. 

“The toll of victims of the protests in Iraq has reached 93 dead and 3978 injured,” Bajalan said. “567 protesters have been detained since Tuesday, while only 355 protesters released.”

Protests first broke out on Tuesday in Baghdad, demanding action tackling high youth unemployment, poverty, poor services, and corruption, and quickly spread to other parts of the country. Security forces have used live ammunition, water cannons and tear gas to quell protests, as well as the imposition of curfews and road closures.

Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, the United Nations Special Representative to Iraq, called for the violence to stop and for those responsible to be held accountable. 

“Five days of reported deaths and injuries: this must stop,” Hennis-Plasschaert tweeted Saturday night.  

“I call on all parties to pause and reflect. Those responsible for violence should be held to account. Let the spirit of unity prevail across #Iraq.”

Former Iraqi Prime Minister and head of parliament’s Al-Nasr coalition Haider al-Abadi called on Saturday for a date to be set for early elections in Iraq, as the current government has "lost its eligibility" to govern.

Abadi’s call for new elections adds to that of influential Iraqi cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, who on Friday called on Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi and his government to resign and make way for a new government.

In an attempt at reconciliation with demonstrators, parliament speaker Halbousi said in a Saturday press conference that he held a meeting with protestor representatives in which he promised to provide jobs, housing, land distribution, and the halting of all activities of Iraq’s provincial councils. In return, Halbousi asked protesters to stop demonstrating and give parliament time to implement the measures.

Protestors on social media claimed those who met with Halbousi did not represent them and refused to stop demonstrating.

Elsewhere, local and regional media agencies claimed late on Saturday they were attacked for their coverage of protests in Iraq.

Kurdish media agency NRT announced in a Facebook post that their office in Baghdad was attacked by a unit from the security forces.

“A security forces unit attacked the office of NRT in Baghdad and shut the office down by force,” an NRT social media post read.

Saudi state-owned al-Arabiya also announced on Saturday that their office in Baghdad was attacked by “masked gunmen.”

“They destroyed all the broadcasting equipment and prevented the federal police from protecting us,” al-Arabiya stated.