- Many Iraqi media have reported this weekend about the Swedish Defense Minister's citizenship and that he is being investigated for non-grant contributions in Sweden. On Tuesday, several newspapers write that al-Shammari is being investigated for international crimes in Sweden in connection with the killing of hundreds of protesters during the protests in Iraq.
- At the same time, the Iraqi Ministry of Defense writes on its Facebook page that the information about al-Shammari is false and that a Swedish lawyer has been appointed to sue Swedish and Arabic newspapers that published the information.
What is the reputation of the Minister of Defense?- He is not a well-known minister that everyone knows. Iraq has been crippled for two months by demonstrations against widespread corruption in the country - and the protesters demand the resignation of the entire government, including the defense minister.
- Last week, Shammari received a relatively large impact in the media after saying that it is not the Iraqi military that is responsible for the deadly violence against Iraq's protesters. During a trip to Paris, al-Shammari said it is a "third party" responsible for the killing of civilians. He then aimed at the Iran-backed militias that have great influence in Iraq. According to the defense minister, the Iran-backed militias are firing sharply at the protesters.
Hundreds of people have been killed. What is the latest about the protests in Iraq?- A total of at least 350 people must have been killed and more than 15,000 injured since the protests took off in early October. The protesters protest against the corruption. Millions of people lack access to functioning schools and healthcare, electricity and water supply - despite the fact that Iraq has large oil resources and is in fact a rich country.
- Many of the protesters are also targeting their anger against neighboring Iran, which has great influence in Iraq. Me and photographer Pernilla Edholm were in Baghdad a week ago and the protests show no signs of slowing down. Amnesty International calls what is currently going on in the country a bloodbath.