One hundred and three protesters and security force members were killed and 4,035 people were injured in clashes during six days of nationwide protests over corruption, lack of government services, unemployment, and nepotism.
The government denied ordering security forces to shoot protesters, but, in another blow to the beleaguered administration of Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi, Sistani said he would hold the government responsible.
“The government and its security forces are responsible for the abundance of blood spilled in the protests of the last days, whether be it from innocent civilians or security forces tasked to deal with it, and it [the government] cannot escape from assuming this huge responsibility,” Sistani said in a Friday public sermon read by his representative Sheikh Abdulmahdi al-Karbalai.
If security forces use “excessive force,” the government is still “responsible” because these security members are undisciplined, disobey orders, and are unqualified to deal with mass protests, asserted Sistani.
“It [the government] is responsible when armed individuals outside the law, in front of security forces, target protesters and snipe them, and assault certain media outlets to strike fear in those who work there,” said the cleric.
Sistani demanded the government investigate the shootings and make public the names of officers who shot protesters or gave shoot-to-kill orders. These individuals must be brought to justice “within a limited period, like two weeks,” he added.
Holding to account those who opened fire on protesters will demonstrate the government’s seriousness “and its true intention in undertaking wide steps for real reform,” Sistani said.
Iraq’s judiciary has said it will take legal measures against those found responsible for the deaths of protesters.
Abdul-Mahdi announced plans to increase welfare programs, provide more jobs, and fight corruption in an effort to meet the demands of protesters.
The protests have waned, but there are expectations they will pick up again after next weekend’s Shiite Arbaeen pilgrimage, which commemorates the death of the grandson of the Prophet Mohammed. Last year, nearly 2 million Iranian pilgrims visited Iraq’s holy sites for the event.
