PM Kadhimi vows to pay for treatments of wounded Iraqi protesters

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi received in Baghdad a group of wounded Iraqi protesters from the southern Iraqi city of Nasiriyah on Monday, during which the official promised to aid those injured in the mass demonstrations that began in October.

“Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi directs the formation of a committee to coordinate between the Prime Minister's office and the wounded protesters to monitor their health conditions,” the Iraqi PM’s media office tweeted on Monday.

Kadhimi “vowed” to provide medical treatment to wounded protesters in a separate tweet, saying they would “transfer some of them for treatment outside Iraq if necessary.”

“The government is determined to fulfill the demands of the peaceful demonstrators, which are among the priorities of its program,” the office stated in another tweet.

Iraq has seen frequent protests since October 2019, with demonstrators demanding basic services, jobs, and the fall of the corruption-rife political establishment that have been in place since the 2003 US invasion.

When security forces and pro-Iran militias began attacking the protesters, killing hundreds, activists began demanding an end to foreign interference in Iraqi affairs and called for the overthrow of the political elite.

Nearly 560 protesters and security force members have been killed since October 2019, according to data provided by Hisham Dawoud, advisor to the prime minister.

However, human rights monitor Amnesty International estimates that at least 600 protesters and members of the security forces have been killed, with more than 18,000 injured in the protests.

Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi has previously vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice.

Leaders from across the political spectrum have condemned the deaths, but protesters complain that the killers – largely believed to be members of Iran-backed militias - are not being brought to justice.

Under the rule of Kadhimi’s government, two protesters were killed in clashes with security forces late last month, when electricity cuts and soaring temperatures prompted demonstrations in central Baghdad.

Kadhimi ordered an investigation into the deaths, demanding answers within 72 hours.

The Iraqi government suspended three soldiers, including two senior officers, in connection with the deaths.

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