ERBIL, Kurdistan Region— Fresh protests broke out in several provinces across central and southern Iraq over the weekend, with several protesters wounded, activists told Rudaw English on Sunday.
Demonstrations broke out in the southern city of Nasiriyah on Friday. Clashes took place between demonstrators and riot police where three protesters were wounded, local activist Muhammad Khayat, told Rudaw on Sunday.
Protesters blocked the Hadarat Bridge in the city centre before returning to Habboubi Square, the city’s protest hotspot that has witnessed some of the bloodiest crackdowns on demonstrators since popular protests began in October 2019, calling for basic services and an end to corruption.
"We receive threats almost daily on social media, but this will not prevent us from continuing to sit-in in Haboubi until our demands are met." Khayat said.
Activist Maytham al-Mufadhal, also from Nasiriyah, told Rudaw English that they demand authorities reveal the fate of the activist Sajjad al-Iraqi, who was kidnapped by an unknown party in September.
"We received many government promises to reveal Sajjad's fate, but several months passed and the results of the investigation were not released. The sit-in continues until the fate of Sajjad is revealed," Mufadhal said.
Activists are often threatened, kidnapped and killed for their involvement in the protest movement. Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi sent counter-terror forces to Nasiriyah to find Iraqi in September, claiming to know of his location, but he is yet to be found.
Several activists were assassinated last year for their involvement in the movement, including prominent activist and fitness trainer Reham Yacoub.
Protests also took place in Wasit province on Sunday, where protesters closed government offices and blocked main roads in the provincial capital of Kut, demanding the removal of the local government
"Heavy rain fell in Kut during the past two days, which led to the flooding of many streets and homes. This happened due to the corruption of the local government, which is unable to provide the simplest of services," said activist Ahmed Al-Bashek.
Bashik said that Wasit demonstrators have received many promises to change the governor and his two deputies, but to no avail. He pointed out that the demonstrations turned into sit-ins, which he said would only be ended by bringing down the local government.
At least 600 protesters and members of the security forces were killed and more than 18,000 injured since the protest movement emerged, Amnesty International said in January 2020.
