Kadhimi orders probe into election protest violence

Layal Shakir

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi late on Friday ordered the formation of a committee to investigate violence and the use of live ammunition during an election protest in Baghdad’s Green Zone. 
 
Kadhimi ordered the formation of a higher investigative committee “to look into the unfortunate events that the demonstrations witnessed,” the Security Media Cell said in a tweet.
 
Hundreds of protesters affiliated with the Iran-backed Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF, or Hashd al-Shaabi) on Friday afternoon stormed the Green Zone, which is home to diplomatic missions and government offices. They reject the preliminary results of the October 10 elections that dealt devastating blows to PMF affiliated parties, most notably the Fatih Alliance, and have been staging a sit-in in central Baghdad for days. 

 
After the first results were released last month, the parties alleged fraud and threatened protests. 
 
At least 125 people, including 98 members of security forces, were injured on Friday, the health ministry said a few hours after protesters clashed with security forces. 
 
No official information of deaths has been made public but the cell’s tweet indicates that an unknown number of people have died as it refers to “martyrs.”
 
Several political figures called on the protesters to reject violence.
 
Shiite cleric and leader of Sadrist Movement Muqatada al-Sadr warned that the reputation of the PMF “should not be tarnished” by resorting to physical protest. The Sadrists are the leading bloc in the October 10 election after they won over 70 seats. 
 
Former prime minister and leader of the State of Law Coalition Nouri al-Maliki, also called on protesters to stay away from violence, saying they should instead “follow the legal contexts when protesting and demanding transparency in the elections, avoiding clashes with the security forces.” 
 
Maliki also said that he supports the protesters’ demands, calling on security members to avoid using force against them.
 
Earlier this week, Iraq’s electoral body invited further submissions of evidence of alleged electoral fraud, as state media reported most appeals were so far found to be groundless. 
 
The early election was held in response to October 2019 protests complaining of corruption and ineptitude among the ruling class and political system.