• Iraq, the wave of protests continues: around 100 dead
  • Iraq: fourth day of protests, police in Baghdad shoot at protesters
  • Iraq: third day of protests, the revolt continues despite the curfew

Share

08 October 2019Ten of the more than 100 people killed in Iraq in recent days during the government repression of protests for high prices and corruption were hit in the head by bullets fired by snipers. It is the figure that emerges from the preliminary reports of activists and human rights organizations in Iraq, quoted today by the media, on the violence that broke out a week ago and continued until Sunday evening in Baghdad and other cities in the south of the country

According to the Iraqi Supreme Human Rights Commission, of the 103 deaths verified and the more than 4,000 wounded - other sources speak of 111 killed and 6,000 wounded - in six days of violence, 40% were killed or wounded by gunshots from fire aimed at the body and against the head. Only 20% were victims of rubber bullets. The remaining 40% has been the victim of stone throwing and 15% of tear gas.

As the activists of the Erfaa Sawtak (Raise the Voice) and Thawrat Iraq (Iraqi Revolution) platforms announce, dozens of protesters killed by gunshots were joined by lethal bullets to the head. Activists show on social networks and Internet sites several videos showing the moments of these killings attributed to sniped snipers posted on the roofs of buildings near the areas of unrest in Baghdad, Basra, Nassiriya, Kut and other cities.

So far, the government has admitted "excessive use of force" in handling popular protests but has not commented on the news of sniping snipers in unrest.