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| (Shafaq News) |
On October 1 around 100 people showed up in Baghdad’s Tahrir Square to mark the four year anniversary of the protest movement. Some people called for the release of their relatives from prison who have been incarcerated for years. Younger people marched and clashed with the security forces. Every year since 2019 there have been similar observances.
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| (Bas News) |
The protests started demanding political reform, an end to corruption, better services and more jobs. It became a sustained campaign across several provinces. The Abdul Mahdi government with the support of Iran and its allies in the Hashd attempted to break up the demonstrators through violence and intimidation. Moqtada al-Sadr joined the demonstrators and then turned on them. That led to its eventually dissolution.
In the aftermath there were no major changes to the Iraqi government. Some new parties were formed and got elected in the 2021 parliamentary elections. There was talk that they would become the country’s first opposition, but they have no real power in the assembly. That’s because decisions are made by party bosses behind closed doors. The protests did expose the Shiite elite who came to power pushing the community’s victimization throughout Iraqi history only to turn on its own people when they were seen as a threat. Many young people will never look at the ruling parties the same.
SOURCES
Bas News, “:Supporters Rally in Baghdad, Call for Release of October 2019 Demonstrators,” 10/1/23
Shafaq News, “Clashes and injuries during the dispersal of the Tahrir Square demonstration … photos and video,” 10/1/23
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