Sat 30 July 2022:
Days after storming the legislative body and forcing the suspension of a session to name a new prime minister, Iraqi protesters have once more entered the country’s parliament to show their support for prominent Shia leader Muqtada al-Sadr.
On Saturday, as protesters toppled and scaled a number of substantial concrete barriers surrounding the Green Zone, which is a perimeter around government buildings and foreign embassies, security forces opened fire with tear gas canisters.
“All the people are with you Sayyid Muqtada,” the protesters chanted, using his title as a descendant of the Prophet Muhammad.
The media office of Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi had issued a statement calling on security officers to guarantee the safety of state institutions.
Reporters from Baghdad, said the protesters did not back down despite reports of injuries from tear gas canisters.
On Wednesday, when a large crowd occupied the parliament building, security forces had let the large crowds enter the perimeter relatively unhindered.
Iraqi protesters storm parliament for second time in a week
Security forces on Saturday fired tear gas canisters and hurled sound bombs.
Demonstrators oppose the candidacy of al-Sudani, who is the pro-Iran Coordination Framework’s pick for the premier’s post.#Iraqi #العراق pic.twitter.com/dXUdHVXBD0
— INDEPENDENT PRESS (@IpIndependent) July 30, 2022
Why Protests?
Al-Sadr’s bloc emerged from elections in October as the biggest parliamentary faction but still fell far short of a majority.
Ten months on, the deadlock persists over the establishment of a new government – the longest period since the 2003 invasion by the United States reset the political order in the oil-rich country.
A vote heralding al-Sudani to the post of prime minister was scheduled to take place on Saturday, but the session was suspended after Wednesday’s events.
Iraqi protesters storm parliament for second time in a week
Security forces on Saturday fired tear gas canisters and hurled sound bombs.
Demonstrators oppose the candidacy of al-Sudani, who is the pro-Iran Coordination Framework’s pick for the premier’s post.#Iraqi #العراق pic.twitter.com/LFyrcTrsWY
— INDEPENDENT PRESS (@IpIndependent) July 30, 2022
Abdelwahed said protesters gathered again on Saturday because they did not trust parliament not to go ahead with the vote. “They say that the fact the session has been suspended does not mean that voting cannot go on behind closed doors,” he said.
“We are here for a revolution,” said protester Haydar al-Lami.
“We don’t want the corrupt, we don’t want those who have been in power to return … since 2003 … they have only brought us harm.”
Although al-Sadr’s alliance won the most seats in October’s parliamentary election, squabbling political parties failed to reach the two-thirds majority needed to pick a president – an important step before a prime minister can be selected.
Iraqi protesters have once again breached Iraq’s parliament in a show of support for influential Shia leader Muqtada al-Sadr.
Security forces on Saturday fired tear gas canisters and hurled sound bombs.#Iraqi #العراق pic.twitter.com/k3Wjqq1uXS
— INDEPENDENT PRESS (@IpIndependent) July 30, 2022
Al-Sadr withdrew his group from the legislature and declared he was terminating efforts to form a government after the talks came to a standstill.
Al-Sadr, who has emerged as a powerful force with a nationalist, anti-Iran agenda, applies the strategy of mass mobilization.
Following the nomination of an Iraqi politician who is pro-Iran as the country’s new leader by Tehran-backed Sadr’s political rival, former prime minister Nouri al-Maliki, the parliament was stormed on Wednesday.
Prime Ministers are traditionally chosen from among Iraq’s Shia majority.
SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES
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