Over 10 killed, 130 injured in past two days of protests: Iraq Human Rights

Over 10 people have been killed and more than 130 people injured in anti-government protests over the past two days in central and southern parts of Iraq.

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Over 10 people have been killed and more than 130 people injured in anti-government protests over the past two days in central and southern parts of Iraq.

Iraq’s Human Rights Commission said in a statement on Wednesday that clashes between protestors and security forces have left 10 people dead, including two police. The commission added that over 130 people had suffered injuries.

On Tuesday, two people were killed in Baghdad as security forces tried to crack down on the protests.

Clashes resumed between protesters and security forces in Baghdad on Sunday morning, while demonstrations in Basra joined a deadline set by those in Nasiriyah for political forces, stating that unless their demands are met, they would cut off major roads linking their areas with the capital.

Read More: Protests escalate in Baghdad as Basra joins calls to block roads connecting to capital

Local activists told Kurdistan 24 that early on Sunday, riot police attempted to storm Tahrir Square, the central gathering space of demonstrators in Baghdad, but the protesters prevented this and burned several tires.

Following that incident, witnesses reported shootings of live rounds in the al-Tayaran Square, a short distance east of Tahrir, with claims of injuries among protesters.

Amid the continued violence, security forces have killed over 450 protesters and wounded thousands more since demonstrations broke out in October 2019. Unofficial estimates range as high as 600 dead among demonstrators.

Crowds first took to the streets in early October to express long-held grievances about chronically inadequate public services, a low standard of living, and widespread institutional graft among government officials.