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Iraq
An Iraqi protester waves the national flag during an anti-government demonstration in the Shiite shrine city of Karbala on October 25, 2019. Photo: AFP
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ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – The commanding office of Iraq’s security forces announced that people who stirred up violence and attacked government buildings during deadly protests on Friday are “terrorists” in the eyes of the state and will be dealt with as such.
In a statement late on Friday, the Iraqi Joint Operation Command vowed to detain all the “trouble makers” from the protests that raged across southern Iraq and left a reported 42 people dead.
“As Iraq is witnessing peaceful protests, some trouble makers have attacked governmental and private properties,” the statement reads. “Iraqi security units will deal with these individuals as ‘terrorists’ and they will be dealt with properly and on the ground.”
The Command also called on peaceful protesters to prevent individuals spreading violence from joining them and to inform on the instigators.
The statement also revealed that some individuals attempted to attack a jail to free some prisoners, but did not provide details.
Anti-government protests that began in early October resumed in Baghdad late on Thursday as protesters gathered near Tahrir Square, saying their original demands of tackling unemployment, corruption, and lack of public services was no longer enough. They are now demanding the overthrow of the government.
The protests intensified throughout Friday and spread to seven other provinces in southern Iraq. The bloody day left 30 dead, according to the Iraqi High Commission for Human Rights (IHCHR), and another 12 burned to death while torching the Diwaniyah headquarters of the Badr Organization, according to AFP. More than 2,000 people were injured.
Curfews were announced in eight provinces: Basra, Diwaniyah, Muthana, Maysan, Dhi Qar, Karbala, Babylon, and Wasit.
Dozens of videos circulating on social media clearly show security forces using excessive force, such as tear gas fired directly into crowds, live ammunition, and sound grenades.
The Interior Ministry, in a statement on Saturday, claimed security forces “did not” use any weapons against the protesters.
“Iraqi security forces protected the protesters during the demonstrations with full responsibility,” the statement reads. “Many security forces were wounded during the protests as some individuals attacked our units with grenades and weapons.”
The ministry accused private guards of political parties of using live ammunition against protesters attacking political offices in several provinces, which resulted in killing and wounding several protesters.
Iraq saw nationwide anti-government protests in early October demanding action to tackle high youth unemployment, poverty, poor services, and corruption. The largest protests were in the capital where thousands of mostly young men took to the streets and were violently suppressed by security forces and armed militia groups. At least 157 people were killed and 5,494 injured in the wave of unrest, according to a report published by the Human Rights Office of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) on Tuesday.
Curfews were imposed on city centres and internet services were suspended across the south.
The protests stopped after October 9, with demonstrators saying they were pausing their action during the Shiite religious observance of Arbaeen, but pledged to return to the streets for a revolution on October 25.
The government and international observers fear the unrest will again get out of control and have urged restraint on all sides.
In a statement late on Friday, the Iraqi Joint Operation Command vowed to detain all the “trouble makers” from the protests that raged across southern Iraq and left a reported 42 people dead.
“As Iraq is witnessing peaceful protests, some trouble makers have attacked governmental and private properties,” the statement reads. “Iraqi security units will deal with these individuals as ‘terrorists’ and they will be dealt with properly and on the ground.”
The Command also called on peaceful protesters to prevent individuals spreading violence from joining them and to inform on the instigators.
The statement also revealed that some individuals attempted to attack a jail to free some prisoners, but did not provide details.
Anti-government protests that began in early October resumed in Baghdad late on Thursday as protesters gathered near Tahrir Square, saying their original demands of tackling unemployment, corruption, and lack of public services was no longer enough. They are now demanding the overthrow of the government.
The protests intensified throughout Friday and spread to seven other provinces in southern Iraq. The bloody day left 30 dead, according to the Iraqi High Commission for Human Rights (IHCHR), and another 12 burned to death while torching the Diwaniyah headquarters of the Badr Organization, according to AFP. More than 2,000 people were injured.
Curfews were announced in eight provinces: Basra, Diwaniyah, Muthana, Maysan, Dhi Qar, Karbala, Babylon, and Wasit.
Dozens of videos circulating on social media clearly show security forces using excessive force, such as tear gas fired directly into crowds, live ammunition, and sound grenades.
The Interior Ministry, in a statement on Saturday, claimed security forces “did not” use any weapons against the protesters.
“Iraqi security forces protected the protesters during the demonstrations with full responsibility,” the statement reads. “Many security forces were wounded during the protests as some individuals attacked our units with grenades and weapons.”
The ministry accused private guards of political parties of using live ammunition against protesters attacking political offices in several provinces, which resulted in killing and wounding several protesters.
Iraq saw nationwide anti-government protests in early October demanding action to tackle high youth unemployment, poverty, poor services, and corruption. The largest protests were in the capital where thousands of mostly young men took to the streets and were violently suppressed by security forces and armed militia groups. At least 157 people were killed and 5,494 injured in the wave of unrest, according to a report published by the Human Rights Office of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) on Tuesday.
Curfews were imposed on city centres and internet services were suspended across the south.
The protests stopped after October 9, with demonstrators saying they were pausing their action during the Shiite religious observance of Arbaeen, but pledged to return to the streets for a revolution on October 25.
The government and international observers fear the unrest will again get out of control and have urged restraint on all sides.
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