Band of Western embassies slam violence against Iraq protesters
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Embassies of over a dozen countries in Iraq including major European powers and the United States issued a joint condemnation of Iraqi security force violence against protesters, calling on the government to hold perpetrators to account.
Sixteen western countries, including the UK, Germany, France, and the US said in the joint statement they “condemn the excessive and lethal use of force by Iraqi security forces and armed groups since January 24 against peaceful protestors, including in Baghdad, Nasiriya, and Basra”.
“Despite assurance by the government, security forces and armed groups continue to use live fire in these locations, resulting in multiple deaths and injuries of civilians, while some protesters face intimidation and abduction,” the statement read.
The joint condemnation was in response to the escalation of crackdown on Iraqi protesters from last Saturday onward. Iraqi forces moved in to clear protesters from key sites after influential Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr withdrew his support from the movement.
Protesters in Baghdad and across the south of Iraq have been demanding early elections, an overhaul of the political system, and the departure of the post-2003 ruling class from power since October 1. They have been met with deadly violence, including live ammunition rounds and military-grade tear gas.
More than 600 people killed and around 18,000 injured in clashes between protesters, security forces, and pro-Iran militias according to Amnesty International. Twelve Iraqi protesters were killed in Baghdad and the southern city of Nasiriya on Saturday and Sunday alone, according to Iraq’s High Commission for Human Rights.
Security forces continued to fire live ammunition rounds and tear gas at protesters in Baghdad on Monday to prevent them from re-taking Khilani Square. According to Rudaw’s Mustafah Goran reporting from the scene, protesters currently only fully control Tahrir Square and part of Jumhuriya bridge, which leads to the Green Zone housing government buildings and foreign diplomatic missions.
“The Ambassadors call on the government to respect freedoms of assembly and the right to protest peacefully, as enshrined in Iraq’s constitution, and on all protestors to maintain the peaceful nature of the movement,” the joint embassies statement read.
They also called on the Iraqi government “to guarantee credible investigations and accountability” for the death of protesters since October 1.
Senior Iraqi government officials have repeatedly denied responsibility for protester deaths, blaming “third party” actors and vowing investigations into the violence.
Parliament speaker Mohammed al-Halbousi called on Monday for protester demands to be addressed.
“There still are youth in the protesting square demanding reform, and they have to be listened to and their legitimate demands, after organizing them, be met, and be dealt with using wisdom,” Halbousi said.
Sixteen western countries, including the UK, Germany, France, and the US said in the joint statement they “condemn the excessive and lethal use of force by Iraqi security forces and armed groups since January 24 against peaceful protestors, including in Baghdad, Nasiriya, and Basra”.
“Despite assurance by the government, security forces and armed groups continue to use live fire in these locations, resulting in multiple deaths and injuries of civilians, while some protesters face intimidation and abduction,” the statement read.
The joint condemnation was in response to the escalation of crackdown on Iraqi protesters from last Saturday onward. Iraqi forces moved in to clear protesters from key sites after influential Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr withdrew his support from the movement.
Protesters in Baghdad and across the south of Iraq have been demanding early elections, an overhaul of the political system, and the departure of the post-2003 ruling class from power since October 1. They have been met with deadly violence, including live ammunition rounds and military-grade tear gas.
More than 600 people killed and around 18,000 injured in clashes between protesters, security forces, and pro-Iran militias according to Amnesty International. Twelve Iraqi protesters were killed in Baghdad and the southern city of Nasiriya on Saturday and Sunday alone, according to Iraq’s High Commission for Human Rights.
Security forces continued to fire live ammunition rounds and tear gas at protesters in Baghdad on Monday to prevent them from re-taking Khilani Square. According to Rudaw’s Mustafah Goran reporting from the scene, protesters currently only fully control Tahrir Square and part of Jumhuriya bridge, which leads to the Green Zone housing government buildings and foreign diplomatic missions.
“The Ambassadors call on the government to respect freedoms of assembly and the right to protest peacefully, as enshrined in Iraq’s constitution, and on all protestors to maintain the peaceful nature of the movement,” the joint embassies statement read.
They also called on the Iraqi government “to guarantee credible investigations and accountability” for the death of protesters since October 1.
Senior Iraqi government officials have repeatedly denied responsibility for protester deaths, blaming “third party” actors and vowing investigations into the violence.
Parliament speaker Mohammed al-Halbousi called on Monday for protester demands to be addressed.
“There still are youth in the protesting square demanding reform, and they have to be listened to and their legitimate demands, after organizing them, be met, and be dealt with using wisdom,” Halbousi said.