UN Special Representative calls Baghdad to protect ‘genuine protesters,’ crackdown on acts of violence

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The government must act immediately and respect the people’s rights after the recent violence in Iraq’s southern province of Basra, the United Nations Special Representative Jan Kubis said on Saturday.

Demonstrations against poor government services and ongoing unemployment have reignited in Iraq’s south with protests turning violent.

People complaining about a lack of essential services like clean drinking water and electricity have set fire to government buildings and political parties’ offices.

According to a statement by the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), Kubis condemned the recent upsurge in violence and urged Baghdad “to take resolute action while respecting the right of people for peaceful demonstrations.”

“These acts of violence have nothing to do with the people’s rightful demands for services, jobs and against corruption,” the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Iraq said.

Kubis warned that the destruction of public and private property works against the legitimate rights of protestors and their “expectations of dignified, peaceful life.”

During the past week of protests, about a dozen people have been killed and hundreds wounded as security forces cracked down on demonstrators.

The UN official called on Iraqi security forces to “protect the genuine protestors” and “act in full respect for human rights.”

He also called on the Iraqi government to protect diplomatic and consular premises and identify those responsible for the acts of violence.

The recent protests come at a time political leaders in Iraq are deciding on the formation of a new government following the May 12 elections.

Kubis urged the politicians to expedite the decisions for the government formation and “immediately embark on taking effective steps to alleviate the people’s hardship.”