The Supreme Shiite religious authority in Iraq yesterday called on security forces and protesters not to use force, and criticized Iraqi leaders for their failure to eliminate corruption, while the United Nations urged the Iraqi authorities to investigate promptly and transparently, the question of the use of force by security forces against demonstrators. Dozens were killed. For its part, announced the presidency of the Iraqi parliament, it will devote a session, today, to discuss the demands of the demonstrators.
In detail, the Supreme Leader of Iraq's Shiites, Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, yesterday urged security forces and protesters not to use force. Sistani said in his Friday sermon on behalf of his representative, Ahmed al-Safi, in the city of Karbala, that the unrest «left dozens of victims and large numbers of wounded and wounded, and a lot of damage to government institutions and others, in painful scenes and very regrettable».
He added that the government and political forces have not responded to the people's demands in the fight against corruption, or achieved anything on the ground. He said «the House of Representatives, with its legislative and regulatory powers, bears the greatest responsibility in this area».
"There are unacceptable and condemned attacks on peaceful demonstrators and security forces," he said, stressing that "the government should change its approach to dealing with the country's problems" and "remedy matters before it is too late."
Al-Safi added that «the government should fulfill its duties, and do its utmost to improve public services, and provide jobs for the unemployed, and away from favoritism in public jobs, and to complete the files accused of manipulating public funds, and their market to justice».
For his part, Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi, in the early hours of yesterday morning, that life must be normalized in all provinces of Iraq, and addressed the demonstrators in the country, saying that their voice is heard, and their demands are legitimate.
Abdul-Mahdi said in a speech broadcast on Iraqi state television: «We adhere to the Constitution, and we have to reform the political system, and take responsibility for the leadership of the state at this sensitive stage».
The Prime Minister, the House of Representatives, called for ministerial amendments away from political quotas, adding: «We regret that some succeeded in taking the demonstrations off the peaceful track».
Abdul-Mahdi vowed to continue reform, saying: «Your demands for reform and the fight against corruption and we have .. And mistake those who think that it is far from accountability, and we adhere to the Constitution».
He continued: «The escalation of the demonstration is leading to loss of life and destruction of the state, and we are putting strict controls to prevent violence».
He explained: «I tell you our computer for everything we do, and we have to cooperate, and that the state does not have magical solutions to solve all problems».
He said: «We will give salaries to every Iraqi family does not have a monthly salary, in order to achieve justice».
He added: «We have formed committees to release detainees from the demonstrators, and consider the victims of the demonstrations martyrs».
For his part, Vice-President of the Iraqi Parliament Hassan al-Kaabi, said that the parliament will hold a special session today to discuss the repercussions of demonstrations in some Iraqi provinces, and how to meet the demands of demonstrators.
Al-Kaabi said «We will work to legislate« deprivation »on the allocation of 5% of the salaries of the three presidencies« Republic, Council of Ministers, Parliament »for the deprived and needy (poor).
He also called for 25,000 job opportunities for graduate students.
"We call on the Iraqi government to allow people to exercise their right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly," Marta Hurtado, a spokeswoman for the UN Human Rights Office, told reporters.
Her call came as clashes between protesters and security forces continued on the fourth day of mass protests. According to Hurtado, the UN Human Rights Office independently confirmed the deaths of 12 people in Baghdad, adding that "hundreds were reportedly injured, including members of the security forces."
"Dozens of demonstrators were arrested, although most were later released."
The confrontation escalated between demonstrators who are demanding the overthrow of the government, and Iraqi security forces, who fired live bullets at the protesters, on the fourth day of movement.
The sources in the Iraqi police, in addition to medical sources, reported earlier yesterday, the death toll of demonstrations to 44 and hundreds of wounded, according to Reuters news agency reported. The largest number of deaths occurred in the city of Nasiriyah, where 18 died, while 16 were killed in the capital Baghdad.
Protests broke out against corruption, unemployment and a lack of services in Baghdad on Tuesday before spreading to the mainly Shi'ite south, while the northern and western provinces appeared relatively calm.
The protests are unprecedented, given their apparent spontaneity and independence in a country where protests usually take place at the invitation of political or religious figures.
"We are concerned by reports that security forces used live ammunition and rubber bullets in some areas and that they also dropped tear gas canisters directly at protesters," Hurtado said, stressing that "the use of force" in dealing with demonstrations should be in place. Only "exceptional" cases.
"The use of force must comply with international human rights norms and standards," she said, stressing that firearms should be used only as a last resort to protect against any imminent threat of death or serious injury.
"All incidents in which the behavior of security forces caused deaths and injuries should be investigated promptly, independently and transparently."
The UN Office for Human Rights stressed that the demonstrators' demands to respect economic and social rights are "legitimate". "You have to listen to people's complaints," Hurtado said.
Sadr calls his deputies to suspend their membership in parliament
The leader of the Sadrist movement, Muqtada al-Sadr, yesterday, deputies of the Bloc «Siron» to suspend their membership in the Iraqi parliament, following the bloody demonstrations in Baghdad, as well as several areas in southern Iraq.
In a statement, Sadr urged his deputies to suspend their work in parliament until a ministerial program satisfies the people and the Shiite Supreme Reference in Iraq.
Sadr advised the rest of the blocks to support this decision.
Al-Sadr leads the bloc «Saeron», which led the last general elections in Iraq in May 2018, and has 54 seats in parliament out of 329. Baghdad - Reuters
Uprisings are an ancient tradition in Nasiriyah
Since the Sumerians, more than 5,000 years ago, Dhi Qar is proud to have always been an area of refusal to submit. To date, in four days of bloody demonstrations, this rural province in the heart of the tribal region of southern Iraq has provided the highest number of deaths.
Since Tuesday, of the 34 Iraqis killed in the protests and during the response, more than half were from the province, 300 km south of Baghdad.
The center of the province, the city of Nasiriyah, bordering the ruins of the ancient city of Ur, is «the city of revolutions and uprisings, and still», as proudly confirmed to AFP, political commentator Amir Doshi, who lives in the city of more than half a million people.
"Even if we lose martyrs, we will continue to move as long as our demands are not met," said teacher Majid al-Asmi, who takes part in the demonstrations every day.
"I have been participating in the protests for 10 years," the 45-year-old said. "We will continue to protest until the fall of the regime, until it dies."
Nasiriyah has long been a historic stronghold of protest in Iraq, and earlier in Mesopotamia, and proudly echoes its residents, who honor their ancestors according to their political affiliations. Nassiriyah - AFP