Southern Iraq: Popular Movement Sets Monday Deadline for Government, Prepares for Escalation

Jan. 30. 2025

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – Thousands of demonstrators in Al-Qurna district, Basra governorate, southern Iraq, renewed their mass protests late into Wednesday night. Joined by tribes from northern Basra, they voiced deep frustration over the government’s continued failure to address their demands.

Hussein Al-Mizraawi, a representative of the movement, told Shafaq News: “On Tuesday, we warned the government against neglecting our demands or underestimating the people’s grievances. Today, we reinforced that warning with a large-scale demonstration, which will continue to expand until our long-standing demands are met.”

Local residents recently submitted a written list of demands to authorities in Al-Qurna and Basra, calling for improvements in essential services, including water, electricity, roads, and job opportunities.

Al-Mizraawi stated, “The era of favoritism is over. Officials must wake up before our protests escalate further. The three-day deadline has now expired, and we will begin shutting down companies and oil fields in Basra.”

He added, “The government continues to ignore us, relying on silence as a response. Over the past three days, I assured security forces that we would wait. As a gesture of respect, I am extending the deadline until Sunday. However, if the government fails to act, we will march in thousands on Monday, cut off access to oil wells, and set up an open-ended sit-in.”

Concluding his statement, he said, “I have instructed all demonstrators that Monday is final. Those who join must be prepared for a long struggle against corruption. We declare: either a life that pleases our allies or a death that angers our enemies. We call on all tribes to participate in a peaceful, lawful demonstration—without weapons or any attempt to deviate from our cause.”