Sheikh Ali Ward (80 years old) is participating these days in the open sit-in that thousands of supporters of the Sadrist movement started last week in the parliament building. His presence drew many sit-ins and observers of the event.
Al-Masoun was among the thousands who took to the streets in 1958 against then-Prime Minister Nuri al-Said, and says he participated in many protests to demand reforms, fight corruption and improve conditions since 2003.
The Sheikh stresses that the Iraqi people face many grievances, "there are no appointments, no jobs, no health, everything is not (non-existent) from 2003," stressing that it is his national and governmental duty to participate in the protests.
Ward, along with thousands of Iraqis, participated in the 2019 protest against the economic situation and the spread of financial and administrative corruption. He was injured during one of his participations and his protesting companions took him to the hospital.
Regarding the ruling political class in the country, he said: "We want to change all of them, and to hold the corrupt public to account before the people."
One of the protesters - whose name is Atheer Muhammad - said that Al-Hajj was the spiritual father of the October demonstrations and the catalyst for them, and he was calling for the peaceful demonstrators, and when he was hit by smoke (gas bombs), he suffocated, and we took him to the hospital, and we treated him, and he is present - thank God - in all the demonstrations for reform.