Iraq: in Baghdad, supporters of Moqtada al-Sadr continue to demand the dissolution of Parliament

Several thousand Iraqis, supporters of Moqtada al-Sadr, took part, this Friday, in a new prayer at the entrance to the green zone of Baghdad to demand the dissolution of Parliament.

AFP - AHMAD AL-RUBAYE

Text by: RFI Follow

1 min

Several thousand Iraqis took part, this Friday, in a new prayer at the entrance to the green zone of Baghdad, the district which houses the country's institutions.

A protest movement launched by Moqtada al-Sadr, a Shiite imam at the head of a political and paramilitary formation.

For four weeks now, the protesters have been camping in front of the Parliament, which they are calling for the dissolution of.

This Friday prayer was not the largest organized by the movement, but the protest is a long-term one.

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With our special correspondents in Baghdad

,

Bertrand Haeckler and Guilhem Delteil

The thermometer reads 43ºC, but this is not likely to discourage supporters of

Moqtada al-Sadr

.

Armed with umbrellas, caps or sometimes simple boxes on their heads, they gathered in full sun to advance what they call the Achoura revolution, from the name of the religious celebration that the Shiites marked in Beginning of the month.

In this square located in the middle of the country's institutions, supporters held up signs calling for the fall of the system.

They demand in particular the dissolution of Parliament, and their new target is the president of the Supreme Council of the Judiciary, who has declared himself incompetent to grant their request.

Supporters of the religious leader also demonstrated outside the judiciary this week.

At the microphone, the imam compares the Achoura revolution to that led by Imam Hussein, the grandson of Muhammad, revered by the Shiites.

The Sadrist movement wants to give religious legitimacy to its protest: " 

If you have the financial and military support of foreign countries, we have the support of God

 ", says Mohanad al-Musawi, to the attention of this political adversary.

But so far, the movement has failed to build popular support for its revolution.

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To read: Iraq: Moqtada al-Sadr calls on the courts to dissolve Parliament

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  • Iraq

  • Religion

  • Justice