Security forces have used tear gas, water cannons, and live fire to break up protests that have raged across southern Iraq for over two and a half weeks.
Suffering under high unemployment and lack of water and electricity, angry protesters say they have had enough of government corruption and politicians’ failure to serve the people.
Fadel al-Gharrawi of Iraq’s rights commission, who was appointed by the Iraqi parliament, said there had been fatalities in Basra, Samawah, the Shiite shrine cities of Najaf and Karbala, and in the provinces of Diwaniyah and Babylon, according to Anadolu news agency.
He did not specify what proportion of the dead were protesters and how many were members of the security forces.
Up to 275 protesters and 470 security personnel have been injured and more than 800 people have been arrested – although “the majority were later released,” Gharrawi added.
Leaders across the political spectrum have acknowledged the “just demands” of the protesters. Many, however, have accused “infiltrators” of hijacking the demonstrations and instigating violence.
Gharrawi said he has “urged Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi to avoid violence and indiscriminate arrests”. However, he also called on protesters to “behave peacefully,” AFP reports.
Amnesty International reported that security forces are using unnecessary force under the cover of a government-imposed internet blackout.
“We are closely monitoring the escalating situation across southern Iraq and are extremely worried by reports that security forces are beating, arbitrarily detaining and even opening fire on peaceful protesters,” said Lynn Maalouf, Amnesty International's Deputy Director for the Middle East and North Africa, in a report released on Thursday.
“Deliberately disabling the internet is a sinister restriction to the right to freedom of expression and strongly indicates that the authorities have something to hide,” she added.
Abadi has formed a crisis cell to respond to protesters’ demands, pledging to finish infrastructure projects and boost job training. But it may be too little too late.
