Sadr calls for suspension of government formation talks, supports people’s ‘revolution’

Muqtada al-Sadr previously described the protests in southern Iraq as a “revolution of the angry."

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Influential Iraqi Shia cleric and leader of the Sairoon Coalition Muqtada al-Sadr has called on Iraqi parties to suspend talks over the formation of a new government until they fulfill the demands of protesters.

In a tweet on Thursday, Sadr called on the political parties in Iraq to suspend talks over the formation of the next Iraqi government.

“The winning political parties in the current [May 12] elections should suspend all talks for the formation of coalitions [to establish the new government] until they meet the rightful demands of the protesters,” he wrote.

Sadr, using a hash-tag which translates to “the people’s revolution is a right,” also called for the formation of a serious working cell within the government in coordination with the protesters to implement their demands.

In a previous tweet on July 13, Sadr expressed support for the protesters and called it “a revolution of the angry,” calling on government authorities not to attack “the oppressed protesters.”

The Shia cleric also had a message for the demonstrators, calling on them not to damage public property as it belongs to the people not corrupt individuals.

For nearly two weeks, people have taken to the streets in several provinces in southern Iraq demanding better public services and an end to unemployment.

In response, the Iraqi government imposed strict measures, including blocking access to the internet and social media and deploying the army and counter-terrorism units into provinces where people are protesting.

According to local Iraqi media outlets, so far, at least 10 people have been killed by security forces and over 250 others wounded.

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany