In spite of the social measures announced by the Iraqi authorities to try to calm the tensions, the protest movement does not weaken in the streets of Baghdad. Since Tuesday, October 1, the demands are the same: economic reforms, but also the resignation of the government, accused of corruption. This Sunday, several demonstrators lost their lives in clashes with the police. In all, since last week, more than a hundred people have been killed, and several thousand wounded.
"We, the youth, we are demonstrating peacefully, what do they want from us, why are they killing us?" Asked a young protester. This youth, precisely, calls for concrete measures to fight against unemployment, which affects a quarter of young Iraqis. The government tried this week to respond to this request. He notably announced a pension allowance for unemployed young people, or the installation of halls for street vendors.
Accused of using force against protesters, the authorities blame what they describe as "saboteurs infiltrés": "There were no clashes between the security forces and the protesters, who were our brothers, but there were some malicious people who attacked the victims, the security forces, and the demonstrators, "said Saad Maan, spokesman for the Ministry of the Interior.
Another measure to calm tensions: the registration of people killed in recent days on what the government calls the list of "martyrs". A decision that could allow the families of the victims to be compensated.