Demonstrations in Iraq .. Reasons for escalation and the way to resolve

Taha Ani

The Iraqi capital Baghdad and other cities have witnessed since the beginning of this month large popular demonstrations, and the anger of demonstrators escalated after the increasing confrontations with the security services and the loss of hundreds of victims, the death toll of more than 110 and wounded more than six thousand.

According to researchers and media that the demonstrations are a growing popular movement, where the journalist from Baghdad, Ahmed Janabi that the demonstrations are "popular anger," because they "came out of youth groups without apparent leadership, and they came out without religious, political or party guidance."

Al-Janabi points out in his talk to Al Jazeera Net that the reasons for the exit of the demonstrators are many, most notably poor services and high unemployment.

Ahmed al-Mallah, a journalist and writer from the city of Mosul, described the demonstrations as "a movement that evolved into a semi-revolution as a result of the extreme repression of the government."

Al-Mallah adds in his interview with Al Jazeera Net that "the reasons for the demonstrations are complex between economic, services and political as a result of the domination of parties and militias on Iraqis."

The media researcher from Baghdad Firas al-Hamdani believes that "what happened and happens in the street closer to popular anger than the movement or revolution, demonstrators feel resentment against the ruling class, and feel distressed about the quality of life they live, and this anger erupted at one moment and came down to the street in the form of groups Of young people with no clear heads or leadership. "

Causes of popular anger
For his part, says researcher in the Iraqi political affairs from Erbil Shaho Qara Daghi that "the demonstrations as a natural result of the accumulation of problems and crises in Iraq during the past years, in addition to the deterioration of security and economic."

He adds in his talk to the island Net that "wasted funds exceeded 450 billion dollars according to official figures, and that the government owes nearly 124 billion dollars, and the country suffers from the lack of infrastructure, employment opportunities, security and stability," stressing that these "the most prominent reasons for the exit of the current demonstrations."

Anbar researcher Ahmed Eid believes that "the poor political performance of the parties and the ruling authority is behind the ongoing movement and the uprising of the Iraqi youth, and the most important reasons that led to this movement unprecedented corruption in the country."

Eid confirms to Al Jazeera Net that "what is happening is anger and resentment of the public policies that spanned over 16 years, and left many accumulations and security problems, economic and partisan and sectarian quotas that put unqualified in decision-making positions, in addition to the rampant corruption in all institutions Country".

Logos and demands
The slogans raised several slogans and demands, most notably fighting corruption and eliminating unemployment.

In this context, the navigator says that the most prominent slogans of the demonstrators "we want a home" and "go", while the demands are "rights, such as recruitment and the provision of work and improve services," pointing out that some of the demonstrators demanded the departure of the political class.

The researcher Ahmed Eid pointed out that "the slogans raised by the demonstrators emphasize the awareness, culture, firmness, patriotism and national spirit that they hold," pointing out that they "chanting in the name of the homeland and holding the corrupt and negligent accountable in all fields, demanding a regime change that deprived them of their most basic rights, namely to live in dignity. Like other countries that respect the will of their people. "

"The government ignores and turns its ears on the real rhetoric of these young people," he says. "They started giving doses to silence them and end their demonstrations. They also promised unfounded prosthetic solutions to solve the problems for which the demonstrators came out."

Korra Daghi warned that "procrastination and giving government and parliamentary promises without implementation will lead to fuel the demonstrations."

Who are the demonstrators?
There are many questions about the demonstrators and who leads them? Who is behind these demonstrations? And who pays it? Observers and researchers say this is “youth demonstrations” that have not received support from any particular group.

"The demonstrators are a group of young people born and lived in despair and corruption. They no longer care about political slogans and partisan promises. Their goal is change."

The Janabi believes that "the strength of the demonstrations was the result of non-impulse of political symbols, religious or partisan in Iraq," stressing that "spontaneous demonstrations led by a group of young people came out to demand their legitimate rights."

Firas al-Hamdani, a Baghdad-based media researcher, said that "young demonstrators want a livable homeland," pointing out that "anti-demonstrators accused the demonstrators of various charges, and other parties tried to support the movement of demonstrators, which gave an argument to the suppressors that the demonstrators are supported by certain parties as well Like the Baath Party and others. "

Are the demonstrations renewed?
Regarding the possibility of renewed demonstrations in Iraq, al-Janabi believes that calming the thoughts of the people who have been killed and tens of thousands injured lies in the dissolution of the current government, and the holding of early legislative elections, and agreed by both Al-Mallah, Hamdani and Eid.