Al-Jazeera Net - Dhi Qar

Calm had been hanging over Haboubi Square in the center of Nasiriyah (360 km south of Baghdad) since the last demonstration in the city at the end of last month, which called for the killing of the demonstrators to be held accountable, before it witnessed an unnatural movement since midday on Friday, when hundreds of followers of the leader of the Sadrist movement, Muqtada al-Sadr arrived To perform Friday prayers and demonstrate near Haboubi Square.

Although Al-Haboubi Square did not witness a large public presence in recent weeks except for the first anniversary of the "October uprising", which coincided with the 25th of last month, which witnessed thousands of citizens flocking to demonstrate and emphasize the peacefulness of the protests, demanding reforms and denouncing corruption, the attendance today was large in conjunction with Sadrist supporters gathered 5 streets away from Al-Haboubi Square.

Part of the confrontation between activists of Al-Haboubi Square and supporters of the Sadrist movement (Reuters)

The beginning of the confrontation was


after the Friday prayers performed by supporters of the Sadrist movement on Friday Street, which is approximately one kilometer from Al-Haboubi Square, after which thousands of followers gathered, and at three in the afternoon, groups of them arrived at the Civilizations Bridge overlooking the protest square to try to enter the square, according to This is confirmed by Ammar Razzaq, a prominent activist in the Nasiriyah demonstrations and an eyewitness to what happened on Friday.

Razzaq told Al-Jazeera Net that the Sadrist group that arrived near the checkpoint that leads to the entrance to the square were carrying weapons and were accompanied by cars carrying loudspeakers from which the well-known Sadrist chants were launched, and they stood at the front checkpoint, and there were hundreds of Haboubi protesters who arrived early to the square in anticipation of any event.

He added that the young men told them that they could not enter Al-Haboubi Square in this way, fearing that there would be confrontations inside the square between the two parties, but they refused, and then a quick verbal altercation took place after which dozens of them arrived and the confrontation began with stones and sticks between the two sides, adding, “I saw them and others shooting, which The youth were forced to retreat to the outskirts of the square. "

After these quick events, there was a state of chaos in the city center and confusion in the movement of people, especially since the place of confrontation is located near the markets and private doctors' clinics and the influx of dozens of patients, which raised people's fears, especially since the supporters of the Sadrist movement and their Peace Brigades entered in an organized manner. From 4 axes to Al-Haboubi Square, and they forced the shops to close.

Sadr's supporters during clashes with anti-government protesters near Al-Haboubi Square in Nasiriyah (Reuters)

Killed and wounded


In a related context, a medical source confirmed to Al-Jazeera Net that the outcome of the clashes is 3 dead and 50 wounded on both sides, in addition to the injury of a lieutenant colonel in the head area with stones thrown at him by mistake, as was said.

The medical source explains that the 50 injuries, including 9 wounded, were wounded by gunfire, including serious cases, and they were admitted to Al-Hussein Teaching Hospital.

Akram Kadhim, a protester and activist in the Nasiriyah demonstrations, confirmed to Al Jazeera Net when the confrontation took place between the followers of the Sadrist movement and the demonstrators of Al-Haboubi, the followers of Al-Sadr entered the square and burned 8 tents for the demonstrators and then withdrew, because Al-Haboubi protesters gathered in the thousands and expelled them from the square.

What remains of the protest tents (networking sites)

Wahab Al-Zaidi, who is a supporter of the Sadrist movement, confirmed to Al-Jazeera Net that the problem occurred after quarrels that the Haboubi demonstrators openly started, adding, "We had no intention of entering the demonstration square," and that the program that Muqtada al-Sadr called for is far from any confrontation or Hassle with either party.

Al-Zaidi added that the scheduled program included a sermon and Friday prayers, then a gathering on Friday Street, and then reading the statement of protest, withdrawal, and the return of each group to its area, but what happened had started from the demonstrators of Haboubi until they started throwing stones at the supporters of the movement, and then it happened. Event.

A picture taken by one of the activists who said it was of a member of the Sadrist movement carrying a pistol (communication sites)

During the developments of the events, large armed groups from the supporters of the movement and the Peace Brigades had entered Al-Haboubi Square at around 7 pm, and began firing, as they burned all the sit-in tents in the square and expelled all the demonstrators, and then gathered within it completely, announcing control and removing all the tents.

There was no explanation or comment from the Dhi Qar Police Command about the events in Al-Haboubi Square, and the police or the regiments did not interfere in everything that happened, and an hour after the Friday events, the police chief, Brigadier General Hazem Al-Waeli, was dismissed and Major General Odeh Salem was assigned the task, while the curfew was declared In the entire city of Nasiriyah.

The Sadrist demonstrations on Friday came after Muqtada al-Sadr called on the supporters of his movement to demonstrate in various regions and cities of Iraq, to ​​confirm the readiness for elections and the reorganization of the Sadrist movement.