The activist and outspoken critic of the Sadrist movement, Dhurgham Majid, was severely beaten by sticks and stones allegedly by bodyguards of Sadrist MP Suha al-Sultani, the independent Baghdad Today reported on Wednesday, sourcing a security telegram.
Majid was immediately admitted to the hospital as he suffered neck and abdomen injuries.
Visibly still in pain, Majid took to social media in a series of videos filmed from his hospital bed, reassuring his supporters that he was in a stable condition. “Once I make a full recovery, we will take significant steps for our homeland and demands,” he said, referring to possible future protests as he is known for calling the public to hold protests across the country.
There has been no comment by Sultani regarding the incident.
Iraqis took to the streets in large-scale protests in 2019, dubbed the Tishreen (October) movement, which 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 disappointing results.
In its annual World Report 2022, Human Rights Watch (HRW) condemned the Iraqi government for a culture of impunity towards the perpetrators of abuses committed against protestors, activists, and journalists.
According to a United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) statement two years ago, at least 487 protestors were killed and over 7,000 were injured during the protests.
By Chenar Chalak
