Baghdad's new Friday routine?

[robert99]

http://rudaw.net/english/middleeast/iraq/21052016
Baghdad was under heavy security on Saturday, with soldiers deployed around key centers, a day after angry protests left hundreds injured by live fire and tear gas.

All roads to the heavily fortified Green Zone were closed, including routes to the Komari Bridge and Sanak that connect parts of the capital to one another.

On Friday, at least 570 people were treated at Baghdad hospitals, as protesters once again stormed the Green Zone on Friday, slamming security forces for using force that killed three protesters, hospital sources said.

Abdulghani Sadoun, head of a hospital in Baghdad’s Rasafa neighborhood, said about 500 people were treated there for exposure to tear gas or for broken bones and other injuries. At least 70 others were treated at the Karkh hospital for breathing problems, said hospital chief Jasib Oujami. He said some victims had marks of beatings on their bodies.

Security forces opened fire with live rounds and tear gas on Friday against thousands of supporters of powerful Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. They gathered in Baghdad’s Tahrir Square before heading to the fortified Green Zone, which houses government buildings and foreign embassies and missions.

see also http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/21/w...-iraq-green-zone-protests.html?ref=world&_r=0
and http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2016/05/21/world/middleeast/ap-ml-iraq-funerals.html?ref=world
"
Friday's breach was the second time in a month that protesters managed to overrun the compound that's home to most of Iraq's ministries and foreign embassies.

The Green Zone breach ratchets up the pressure on an Iraqi government that remains gridlocked amid the political crisis. Since the Green Zone was overrun last month, parliament has been unable to convene. Many lawmakers are boycotting sessions citing security concerns. This leaves Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi without the ability to pass legislation and unable to implement the government reforms that al-Sadr and his supporters say the protests are demanding.

Iraq is also struggling to contain a security crisis in the midst of the political disarray.

A wave of terrorist bombings in and around Baghdad killed more than 200 Iraqis in a single week and wounded hundreds more. The deadliest attacks were claimed by the Islamic State group, who Iraqi ground forces continue to fight on front-lines in the country's west and north. Despite a string of territorial victories against IS, the extremist group remains capable of carrying out deadly terrorist attacks deep inside Iraqi government controlled territory.

(If Iraq had a military there would be a coup!)

 

[Second Summer]

I think when Muslims in the middle east are out protesting on a Friday (afternoon) it's usually because they've been to the mosques and been fired up by preachers. Not to say they can't think for themselves. And certainly not that they don't have any real grievances for which they should protest. (They have many.)

(Edited to make it sound less generalizing and condescending!)

 

[robert99]

http://rudaw.net/english/middleeast/iraq/290520161
Khasraw Goran, an MP in the Iraqi parliament from the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), said that lawmakers from his party as well as the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan and the Change Movement (Gorran) had returned to Baghdad.

“So far, it is not clear whether or not a parliament session will take place,” Gorran said.

The government of Prime Minister Haidar Abadi has remained virtually paralyzed following weekly protests since April 30, when thousands stormed the parliament building and forced the legislature to shut down.


So IS are setting off car bombs every day in Baghdad and the shias are slowly dismantling the Green Zone every Friday.

Iraq as a country no longer exists. Syria as a country barely exists. Libya as a country, ditto. The US is currently spending over $2 million dollars EVERY DAY just on munitions to support ... who? The Middle East is turning into one giant military testing ground. And we're paying for it.

 

[robert99]

http://rudaw.net/english/middleeast/iraq/070620163
warming up for Friday - the first Friday in Ramadan - fasting protesters ...
Protesters returned to Baghdad’s Tahrir Square on Tuesday night requesting government agents believed to be linked with corruption cases be put on trial.
Rudaw’s reporter in Baghdad, Mustafa Goran, said “a large number of people gathered in Tahrir Square shouting slogans against the government and corruption.”
He added that the numbers of protesters are increasing while asking government officials to listen to their demands.
“They want the government to put people responsible for the corruption on trial and deal with them according to the law,” Rudaw’s reporter said.
Earlier on Tuesday, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced the removal of several senior officials.
Abadi removed the general director of Iraqi intelligence, director of the trade bank of Iraq, and head of the Iraqi media network, according to Adil Nuri, spokesperson of the integrity commission in Iraqi parliament.

 

[robert99]

Things started early this week - http://rudaw.net/english/middleeast/iraq/10062016
Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi condemned recent protests in the capital Baghdad in a statement on Friday, calling demonstrator attacks on public institutions and political party offices, including his Dawa Party in Najaf “a criminal act’ especially when government troops are busy fighting terrorism.

“At a time when our forces are making progress in Falluja and scoring victories to return our occupied land to the beloved homeland, some unknown groups are burning offices of the political entities under name of demonstrations,” Abadi said.

Abadi’s remarks come a day after protestors attacked and torched the office of the Dawa Party in Najaf.

The Iraqi premier warned protestors against attacking government institutions or offices of political parties.

“We are from the land of holy war between Iraq and terrorism and strongly warn those take reckless and criminal actions against any public institutions or offices of any political entities,” he said. “We will strongly stand against those cross the line of the public system and attack civilians.”

Head of the Dawa Party and former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki described the attack political party offices in Najaf and other parts of the country including Baghdad as criminal “and the work of gangsters,”

The Iraqi capital has seen waves of public protests in recent months and attacks on its parliament and government compound in the central Green Zone area.

According to Abadi, the attacks on political party offices were carried out by “unknown armed men,” but the public protests have been largely organized by the Sadr movement and its leader Muqtada al-Sadr.

“We ask the political parties to condemn and reject the shameful acts and we ask the patriotic protesters to declare their innocence and not get involved in acts that lead to casualties and make people nervous and horrified,” said Abadi.

 

[robert99]

Here we go again ...
http://rudaw.net/english/middleeast/iraq/100620162
Thousands of supporters of Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr gathered in Baghdad’s Tahrir Square again on Friday, Rudaw’s correspondent reported.

Security forces are on high alert to protect governmental offices, according to Rudaw’s Bahman Hassan.

Hassan added that security forces blocked Senak and Komari bridges as well as Saadon Street and the Eastern Gate.

A special force is protecting the Presidential Complex and Iraqi Parliament.
The Iraqi capital has seen waves of public protests in recent months and attacks on its parliament and government compound in the central Green Zone area. Protesters are demanding government reform and an end to corruption.

A parliamentary report released yesterday estimated that the grand session hall of the parliament building will need $5 million in repairs after it was vandalized by protesters in late April.

 

[robert99]

The clock is ticking - PressTV-Iraqi cleric warns of ‘million-man’ demo
Senior Iraqi cleric Muqtada al-Sadr has called for a halt to anti-government protests during Ramadan but warned that a “million-man” demonstration would be held after the Muslim holy month ends.

“I found it would be beneficial to take a break and postpone all of this until the end of the month,” Sadr said in a statement on Saturday.

The prominent Shia cleric called on his followers to be prepared for “a peaceful, popular million-man protest” after Ramadan ends in July, warning that he would not rein in his forces if protesters were confronted.

Protesters, including Sadr’s followers, have been holding demonstrations to demand reform and an end to corruption, bringing the capital, Baghdad, to a standstill every Friday amid the heavy presence of security forces.

Demonstrators, mostly Sadr’s supporters, have entered into Baghdad's fortified Green Zone, which houses government buildings and foreign embassies, twice over the past two months, storming parliament and the prime minister's office.

 

[robert99]

The whole story plus updates -
Tensions escalate between Iraqi protesters, security forces
The higher coordination committee organizing the protests, which includes secular Iraqis and Sadr followers, has already taken the decision to expand the rallies, announcing at a press conference June 6 that further demonstrations will be held after sunset during Ramadan on weekdays, in addition to those organized on Fridays.

Although Abadi and Hadi al-Amiri, a leader in the Popular Mobilization Units and the head of the Badr Organization, have called for postponing the demonstrations, the committee organizing the protests remained determined to continue the movement.

Abadi and Amiri are opposed to demonstrations because Iraqi forces are currently engaged in a fierce battle with the Islamic State (IS) in Fallujah, 62 kilometers (38 miles) from Baghdad. They argue that demonstrations will drain security forces who have to protect the protesters and fight IS at the same time. However, the demonstrations’ coordination committee considered in its statement June 6 that postponement is “an unacceptable evasion of responsibility.”

In an interview with Al-Monitor, a member of the security committee at the Baghdad Provincial Council, Saad al-Muttalibi, said, “Demonstrators have clearly started rioting. Violent discourse is growing among the protesters.”

He added, “By monitoring the protesters’ social media posts and press statements, one can easily discern violence or the decision to resort to it.”

But cleric Iyad al-Kaabi, a Sadrist student at the Shiite seminary of Najaf and one of the Islamic leaders of the demonstrations, told Al-Monitor, “Protesters are armed with flowers, peaceful expressions [on their faces] and Iraqi flags.” However, he added, “These demonstrations might turn into a general revolution if the government continues to ignore the people’s demands.”

Still, referring to the protesters’ response to the potential future use of violence by security forces who have already used brutal actions to disperse the protests, Kaabi said, “The demonstrations will remain peaceful.”

 

[robert99]

Full scale political power struggle is on in Baghdad - Former Iraqi PM Maliki leading political movement against Sadr
According to sources, Maliki is trying to convince the political leaders to put pressure on Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi to enact tough measures to stop the Sadr protesters who threaten to attack the political party offices and the Green Zone. Maliki, via his close aides, is trying to convince Abadi to arrest the organizers of the protests.

Rudaw has learned that Maliki met with Ammar Al-Hakim, leader of Islamic supreme council, Fuad Maasum, President of Iraq, and Hadi Amri, leader of the Badr organization, to discuss this issue.

 

[robert99]

Iraqi forces cut off roads and bridges leading to Tahrir Square in Baghdad - Iraqi News
No demonstrations today!

 

[robert99]

Sadr prevents supporters from demonstrating for 30 days - Iraqi News
Cleric Moqtada al-Sadr announced on Saturday that owing to several reasons, he has asked his supporters not to demonstrate for a month.

Al-Sadr, in a press statement, said, “I hope that everyone will understand me. This is a pledge that I have made before God and before Iraq.”

(A deal has been done by the sounds of it)

 

[robert99]

http://english.alarabiya.net/en/New...neral-strike-to-pressure-govt-on-reforms.html
Iraq’s prominent Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr on Friday urged government employees to wage a two-day general strike across the country starting Sunday over what he described as the government dragging its feet over moves to curb corruption.

In a statement read at Al-Tahrir Square in central Baghdad on Friday, Sadr said “it is now imperative to activate peaceful protests” following the expiry of his one-month ultimatum to the government on the issue.

Iraq ranks 161st out of 168 countries on Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index.

Sadr, who enjoys a wide base and is the leader of the Sadrist Movement, urged all government employees to start their peaceful protest starting Sunday to Monday. He said the would-be protesters should stand in front of buildings to fix urgent matters that need to be dealt with.

He also called for a hunger strike inside mosques, churches and other places of worship and cultural institutes.

 

[robert99]

Sadr followers goes on strike in Baghdad - Iraqi News
Sadr followers goes on strike in Baghdad
“This morning, employees from the Sadrist movement’s followers went on strike in the Ministries of transportation, health, science and technology and industry, as well as in a number of directorates in Baghdad in response to Sadr’s call to put pressure on the Iraqi government to proceed with the reforms, of which he called for months ago,” officials said.

One of the protesters said, “The hospitals of Sadr city closed this morning after the employees held a strike to support al-Sadr’s call to push the government to carry out the reforms.”

 

[robert99]

Iraqi cleric's supporters demonstrate for reform
PressTV-1000s rally across Iraq demanding reforms
Iraqi cleric's supporters demonstrate for reform
Several thousand supporters of populist Iraqi cleric Moqtada al-Sadr demonstrated in central Baghdad on Friday, calling for reforms that politicians have been quick to promise but slow to carry out.

Iraq's government is mired in corruption, struggles to provide basic services, and positions have for years been shared out based on political and sectarian quotas that protesters have demanded be scrapped.

Friday's demonstration had a festive atmosphere, with protesters at Tahrir Square in central Baghdad waving flags, dancing to pro-reform songs and chanting slogans calling for change.