Protesters in Iraq’s Nasiriyah defiant after bloody crackdown

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Security forces in Iraq’s southern city of Nasiriyah accused unidentified armed groups of attacking protesters in Habubi Square on Sunday night, which saw their tents and belongings set on fire. 

Violence resumed in many parts of Iraq last week, including in the capital Baghdad, which has seen sustained anti-government protests since October.

According to state media INA, Dhi Qar Governorate Police Command released a statement on Monday accusing unidentified armed groups of launching the attack on Nasiriyah’s protesters.  

“Unidentified armed groups driving vehicles opened fire on protesters and attacked them in Nasiriyah city on Sunday,” the statement reads. “The armed group also set ablaze tents of the protesters in Habubi Square in Nasiriyah.”

The statement also confirms Dhi Qar Police clashed with these armed groups early on Monday morning.

Early on Saturday, Iraqi security forces in Baghdad launched a violent crackdown, ejecting protesters from their camps, burning their tents, and retaking several strategic bridges. A day later, armed groups launched a similar crackdown in Nasiriyah.

The repression comes after influential Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr withdrew support for the anti-government protests. Activists have accused Sadr of “betrayal”.

Haider, 23, who has been protesting in Habubi Square since late October, told Rudaw English on Monday that armed men wearing masks and thawbs – the traditional ankle-length garments worn by Arab men – opened fire on their camp.

“We were sitting inside our tents in Habubi Square when we heard live fire outside,” Haider said. “During the live fire and attacks, I personally saw five protesters wounded in front of my eyes and fall down.”

The live fire continued until almost all of the protesters had cleared the square, Haider said.

“After protesters left Habubi Square, the masked men set our tents on fire and we could do nothing to save them.”

Protesters have since returned to Habubi Square and are now busy setting up new tents, he said.

“Nasiriyah will not stop protesting as long as the youth are breathing in the city,” Haider added.

State media outlet INA confirmed protesters have returned to the square and reestablished their camp.

Sadr’s acolyte Mohammed Salih al-Iraqi warned the protesters on Sunday the cleric’s supporters will collaborate with the security forces to crush the movement if the protesters continue criticizing him. 

Pro-Iran units of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), known in Arabic as Hashd al-Shaabi, have been repeatedly accused of targeting protesters with live ammunition. Last month, Human Rights Watch told Rudaw the PMF are involved in the killing of protesters, particularly in the country’s south outside the capital. 

Walid, 27, an activist and photographer from Nasiriyah, said the gunmen who attacked the protesters on Sunday night were militias controlled by the political parties.

“What happened in Nasiriyah yesterday is a move by political parties who rule and own militias and armed groups,” Walid said.

He accused the government and security forces of allowing the attacks to take place and cutting the power to the square.

“The security forces and government knew about the attack, as electricity went off in all Habubi Square ahead of the attack by armed groups,” Walid claimed.

“Even if Tahrir Square [in Baghdad] stopped protesting, Nasiriyah will not stop the protests until all demand are met,” he added.

Following weeks of relative calm, violence resumed last week in Baghdad and other southern cities, where security forces used live ammunition to disperse protesters.

At least 12 have died in clashes since Saturday and more than 230 protesters and members of the security forces have been wounded, according to the Iraqi High Commission for Human Rights. It is not yet clear how many more were maimed or killed in Nasiriyah overnight.

Young Iraqis took to the streets of the nation’s southern and central cities on October 1 to protest the lack of basic services, rampant corruption, and high unemployment.

Following a short pause for the Shiite religious observance of Arbaeen, the protests resumed on October 25 with fresh demands for the overthrow of the post-2003 political establishment.

In that time, more than 600 people have been killed and around 18,000 injured in clashes between protesters, security forces, and pro-Iran militias, according to Amnesty International.

Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, the UN Secretary-General’s special representative for Iraq, urged Iraqi authorities on Saturday to protect protesters from attack and to speed up reforms.