During several days of protests in Iraq, several dozen people died. This is reported by foreign media and news agencies, however, information about the victims varies.
Al Arabiya TV channel cites data from human rights defenders and reports about almost 100 dead and about 3 thousand injured. According to the broadcaster, 540 people were detained during the protests, 200 of them are still being detained. AFP claims that several people were shot dead by unknown snipers.
In turn, RIA Novosti informs about 73 dead and 450 detainees, half of whom are in custody. Such information was reported to the agency by the head of Iraqi human rights defenders Mustafa Saadoun.
“73 people were killed, about 3 thousand were injured from the beginning of the confrontation with the security forces. Most of the dead and injured are from Baghdad and Zi Kar Province. The main injuries are to the head and chest, ”Saaduna quoted the agency as saying.
Protests with Iraq continue from October 1. On this day, anti-government rallies were held in several cities in Iraq. The demonstrators demanded an increase in the fight against corruption, improvement of living conditions, solution of problems in the field of healthcare, education and the labor market. Rallies escalated into clashes with the police.
On the second day of protests, it became known that Facebook and Twitter, as well as the WhatsApp messenger, were blocked in Iraq. This was reported by the non-governmental organization NetBlocks.
Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abd al-Mahdi spoke on the air of Iraqi television and appealed to Parliament to support cabinet changes in connection with large-scale protests in the country, reports Reuters.
According to the prime minister, there is no “magic solution” for chronic problems with the management system in the country. He also promised to contribute to the adoption of the bill on the provision of basic income for poor families.
At the same time, he called the demands of demonstrators to crack down on corruption “right”. The head of the Cabinet called on Iraqi citizens to remain calm and said that the authorities need help to cope with their responsibilities.
Shortly before this, a curfew was imposed in Baghdad by order of al-Mahdi. On the morning of October 5, it was canceled.
It should be noted that against the backdrop of ongoing protests in the country, the militants of the Islamic State * shortly blocked the road between Baghdad and the city of Samarra. According to RIA Novosti, with reference to the press service of the Iraqi security agencies, security officials went to the scene and liquidated the militants.
The statement noted that the incident occurred when law enforcement officers "ensure the safety of areas in Baghdad and other provinces where protests are taking place."
In turn, the UN called on the Iraqi government and protesters to dialogue. This is stated in a statement posted on the page of the official representative of the UN Secretary General Stefan Dujarrick.
- © Alaa al-Marjani
“The Secretary General is closely following developments in Iraq. He calls for a dialogue between the government and the demonstrators as an immediate step towards de-escalation, ”Dujarric said in a statement.
Commenting on the new wave of protests, professor at Moscow State University, Middle East expert Alexander Vavilov noted that Iraq is in a rather complicated and controversial state.
As the expert said in an interview with RT, in Iraq for a long time they could not form a government, start working on specific cases and problems.
“But there are a lot of such problems. First of all, a low standard of living, corruption, unemployment. Naturally, popular mass demonstrations are quite expected. Compromises are being sought now, ”Vavilov said.
In his opinion, the only way out of the situation could be the readiness of the opposing forces for dialogue. The expert connects the protests with the fact that at some point the US side violated the country's internal stability.
Recall that one of the last mass protests in Iraq was the popular uprising in the southern province of Basra in September 2018. Then thousands of people took part in mass demonstrations, set fire to several buildings of state institutions and attacked several objects, including the Iranian consulate and the West Qurna-2 oil complex. During these events, a state of emergency was in effect in the country.
“Now this is actually another surge of popular discontent. The only way is to establish dialogue and mutual understanding with the people. All statements that the government has heard popular demands must now be put into practice, ”the expert concluded.
* “Islamic State” (IG) - the organization was recognized as terrorist by decision of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation of December 29, 2014.