Iraqi cleric calls for big protest following Ramadan

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – On Sunday, Iraqi Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr asked people to hold a big protest in Baghdad after the holy month of Ramadan against the federal government of Iraq.

Sadr’s office released a statement calling people to prepare for a protest involving a million demonstrators in Baghdad following the Islamic month of fasting.

In the statement, Sadr asked protesters to avoid attacking the political parties’ offices in Baghdad.

In the past months, thousands of Sadr followers stormed the streets of Baghdad and broke into the government protected “Green Zone,” where governmental buildings and foreign offices and embassies are located.

The protests were targeted against the federal government of Iraq and “corrupted officials,” especially the Prime Minister of Iraq Haider al-Abadi, for failing to make necessary reforms.

Sadr views the protesters’ demands for change as part of “worship,” and a revolution against the corrupted officials.

The unrest comes at a time where Iraqi security forces are fighting the Islamic State (IS) in different parts of the country.

Following the protests, Abadi warned the demonstrators and indirectly accused Sadr of motivating people to attack governmental and political offices.

Analysts believe that Iraq is a failed state as the country has faced critical financial and political turmoil. They also note that officials are unable to resolve issues and promote reconciliation among the different ethnic and religious groups in the country.

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany