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Iraq won't allow sit-in protests by Shiite cleric supporters for security concerns

Xinhua, March 16, 2016 Adjust font size:

The Iraqi government on Wednesday said it can't permit anti-corruption sit-in protest by supporters of Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr in Baghdad due to security concerns that could endanger the protesters as the security forces are combating the extremist Islamic State (IS) militants in north and west of the country.

A statement by Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi's office said authorities won't give permission to such protest because it is "against law, in addition to the security circumstances and threats by terrorist groups."

"While the security forces are busy with combating Daesh (IS group), they (troops) can't secure and protect the protests," the statement added.

Last Friday, Sadr urged his followers during an anti-corruption rally to set up tents for sit-in protest starting from next Friday in front of the entrance of Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone, which houses the main government buildings and some foreign embassies.

"I make a historical call to every honest, reform-loving Iraqi to rise up and start a new phase in the peaceful popular protests," Sadr said in a statement on March 11 rally.

"Get ready and organize yourselves to establish sit-in tents. This is your time to root out corruption and the corrupt," he said.

Sadr's move came to step up pressure on Abadi to deliver long-awaited anti-corruption and economic reforms, as well as substantial reshuffle of Abadi's cabinet which aimed at confronting the country's economic crisis due to the sharp decrease in oil prices in global markets at the time that the security forces are in full-combat with IS terrorist group in northern and western Iraq.

During the past four weeks thousands of Sadr's followers gathered in downtown Baghdad, demanding reforms, including government reshuffle, better services and an end to corruption in response to an earlier call by Sadr whose al-Ahrar parliamentary bloc holds 34 seats in the 328-seat parliament and three cabinet posts.

So far, there is no immediate response from Sadr and his followers whether they would abide to the government request.

Last year, Abadi's reform plan, first gained popular support, but with the passing of time the reforms fell short to convince demonstrators who continued their protests and demanded that Abadi be more aggressive against the political parties that benefited from corruption and could reverse the reforms to their own good. Endit