ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Iraqis are accusing the United Nations and the US of inaction, empty rhetoric and the pursuit of their own interests as the death and injury toll of nationwide protests continues to climb.
Youssef, 25, has participated in Iraq’s anti-government protests since they began on October 1. He believes that behind the worry and condemnation of their statements lies a UN and US desire to keep Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi in power to exact their own interests.
“The UN and US know that Abdul-Mahdi has killed hundreds of protesters and violated human rights in Iraq, but it seems they aim to keep him [in power] for their own agenda,” Youssef told Rudaw English on Thursday.
“The UN statements that do nothing but condemn the killings are shameful, so we are no longer paying attention to their statements,” he said.
At least 257 people have died and more than 10,000 have been wounded since protests against corruption, lack of employment, and lack of basic services began in Baghdad, before spreading to southern Iraqi provinces.
Protests subsided a week later, in preparation for the Shiite religious holiday of Arbaeen. Resuming on October 25, protesters reassembled with renewed passion, demanding a revolution to sweep away political parties that have consolidated power in Iraq since the 2005 elections.
The government has made multiple announcements of reform in response, pledging to end corruption, deliver more job opportunities, and provide welfare support to Iraqi society's poorest.
Reforms have left protesters dissatisfied. In a bid to force more deep-rooted change, they have pursued bolder action, including the obstruction of main roads, bridges, and even ports to force their demands to be met.
Umm Qasr is Iraq’s only deep-water port. As one of the main conduits for food, medicine and other imports, it holds significant economic and strategic importance.
Thousands of anti-government protesters began blocking roads leading to the port on Wednesday, causing the port to halt all operations. By Saturday, Umm Qasr had officially been closed.
Block of entry to the port caused heavy financial losses, according to a spokeperson for Iraqi Prime Minister and commander-in-chief Abdul-Mahdi.
"Iraq has lost more than $6 billion due to closure of Umm Qasr port, after protesters blocked all the roads that leads to the port," spokeperson Major Gen. Abdul-Karim Khalaf revealed in a Wednesday press conference.
UN Special Envoy to Iraq, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert urged an end to the roadblocks by protesters, which she said undermines their demands.
"Disruption of critical infrastructure also of grave concern. [It is the] responsibility of all to protect public facilities. Threats/closures of roads to oil installations, ports causing billions in losses. Detrimental to Iraq's economy, undermines fulfilling protesters' legitimate demands," Hennis-Plasschaert tweeted.
Iraqi authorities cleared routes to the port after a week of protester obstruction, reopening it at dawn on Thursday.
“Umm Qasr port is reopened and started its operation from 5:00 am this morning,” Basra Operation Command’s Major Gen. Qasim Nizal, told Rudaw English on Thursday.
But just hours later, protesters had once again shut down roads leading to the port.
Among protester grievances has been the chronic interference of foreign powers in Iraqi affairs – particularly by Iran.
Slogans calling for an end to Tehran’s influence have rung out in multiple cities. Protesters in Baghdad have set fire to the Iranian flag. In Babil, protesters painted the flag on the ground before stomping on it. Video footage circulated on Telegram showed protesters in Diwaniya province hitting and tearing up images of Ayatollah Khomeini, founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
The US and Iran have engaged in the sometimes veiled, sometimes explicit exchange of accusations interference in Iraqi affairs since protests began.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tagged Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei in a tweet calling for an end to Iranian influence in the Middle East.
“Iraqi and Lebanese people want their countries back. They are discovering that the Iranian regime’s top export is corruption,” the Tuesday tweet read.
Iran on Wednesday denied claims it has had any role in the violence enacted on protesters, and warned the unrest could make Iraq a fertile ground for interference by the US and Israel.
Salim, 28, has been protesting in Tahrir Square since the second wave of protests began on October 25. For him, the accusatory rhetoric rings hollow.
“We thought the US would support the Iraqi protesters, as we want to kick out Iran out of Iraq, but it seems as though the US like the Iranian presence in Iraq,” Salim told Rudaw English on Thursday.
Like Youssef, Salim believes foreign and international actors want to preserve the country’s status quo.
“The UN and US want to keep Abdul-Mahdi in order to get benefits and incentives,” he said, believing the government’s wealth allows it to hold sway over the media, UN, and other agencies and prevent their expression of support for the protesters.
Youssef believes the protest death toll will continue to rise as the government maintains its grip on power.
“We need to give more blood in order for the government to resign, and by more blood I mean around 4000 - 5000 more protesters will die.”
