Iraq’s students defy ministers, principals to join protests

Rudaw
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – On Monday, youth dressed in the white shirts of their school uniforms swelled the ranks of protesters in Baghdad and southern Iraq, joining anti-government demonstrations in defiance of an education minister, their principals, and warnings that the violent streets were no place for the youth.

“The future is US and OURS,” read a sign held by a medical student in Karbala, photographed by AFP. 

“No school, no classes, until the regime collapses!” students chanted in Diwaniyah. 

Seventy-four protesters have been killed since the protests resumed on Friday, according to the most recent figures from the Human Rights Commission. A wave of unrest broke over southern Iraq at the start of this month as angry Iraqis, acting independent of any political movement or leader, took to the streets to demand government reforms tackling high unemployment, poor provision of services, and rampant corruption. At least 157 people were killed in the first nine days of the month, according to a United Nations report.  

Protests resumed on Friday after the Shiite religious observance of Arbaeen, but this time demonstrators want to topple the government, saying this is a “revolution.”

Students joined the protests en masse, organizing their walk out on social media and taking to the streets with youthful optimism. "If we look back in history, most of the revolutions that happened in the Arab world and the western countries were led by students and not protesters, and because students are supported by UNESCO, no one dared to argue with them, not even members of the government,” an unnamed male protester told AFP. 


"You can't defeat this generation of globalization because it was raised with democracy and open-mindedness,” Raghad, a university professor, told AFP, demanding the government resign because it is incapable of reforms. 

Iraq’s students see firsthand the government incompetence that the protesters are condemning. “Decades of conflict and under-investment in Iraq have destroyed what used to be the best education system in the region and severely curtailed Iraqi children’s access to quality learning,” states the United Nations’ children’s fund (UNICEF).

In some areas of Iraq, which have witnessed conflict, more than 90 percent of children are not in school and schools everywhere are physically crumbling. “One in every two schools is damaged and needs rehabilitation,” according to UNICEF, which says the education sector is underfunded. 

The Iraqi Human Rights Commission warned students against joining the protest, stating that the streets are too dangerous for the youth. 

"The Iraqi High Commission of Human Rights warns about the risks of the involvement of primary and middle school students as well as children from kindergarten in constant protests in Baghdad and other provinces,” read a statement from the body.  

Security forces and unidentified armed men have cracked down on the protesters, using tear gas and, in some case, live bullets. 

The Commission said they hold the schools responsible for the lives of the students. 


Iraq’s Teachers Union announced a four-day general strike on Monday, saying they will “peacefully” protest across the country, excluding the Kurdistan Region. 

"If the government does not respond to the legitimate demands of the people, Iraqi teachers will issue stronger decisions,” Abbas Kadhim Sudani, a representative of the union said in a video statement.  

Their demands include legal measures against those killing protesters, resignation of the government, and amendment of the constitution and electoral law.

Higher Education Minister Qusay al-Suhail has warned academics to avoid protests, according to AFP.