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NAJAF, Iraq – Seventeen anti-government protesters were injured in clashes with Saraya al-Salam militiamen in the holy city of Najaf on Monday.
The militiamen, who are followers of influential cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, are known as the ‘blue hats’ for their distinctive headwear. They had been participating in Iraq’s nationwide anti-government protests and protected the movement from armed pro-government forces.
However, Sadr has since withdrawn his support for the anti-government protests, which began in October, and has thrown his support behind the new prime minister designate Mohammed Tawfiq Allawi.
The protesters have rejected Allawi, claiming he is a candidate of the same post-2003 political establishment they want to depose.
Now the ‘blue hats’ have turned on the crowd, allegedly using live ammunition.
On Monday, clashes in Najaf left 17 protesters injured. They say the Iraqi security forces have turned a blind eye.
“Every day we go on the streets raising our demands,” said one protester Abd Muhsin.
“After we blocked the bridge, they [blue hats] came and hit us and the police never stopped them. The police told the blue hats ‘hit them, we do not care about them’. There were around 200 people taking their rifles out of their vehicles and we fought against each other.”
The protesters say they are not responsible for the violence.
“Outsiders meddled in the protests leading to growing violence and even a civil war,” said Safwan Akram, another protester.
“Many people were wounded and harmed. This is not what we want. We are on strike and holding peaceful protests.”
The blue hats say they are not trying to halt the protests or dismantle the camps but merely dealing with “troublemakers”.
“As the blue hats, we are still on the side of our brothers among the protesters and committed to voice their demands as well,” said Mohammed Jabbar, head of the blue hats in Najaf.
“However, in order to carry out orders from the Shiite Marja [Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, Iraq’s highest religious authority], officials, and relevant authorities of the province, we tried to remove those people who have infiltrated the protests.”
Since October, 32 protesters have been killed and 418 injured in Najaf’s protests.
Protesters fear the authorities will soon launch a crackdown against their encampments.
Reporting by Hiwa Hussamadin, translation by Zhelwan Zeyad
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