Two months after the start of the protests in Iraq, the violence has continued to escalate. Yesterday, security forces in Nassirija City shot dead at least 25 demonstrators who had blocked two bridges.
More than 200 other people were injured, rescue workers and police representatives reported. Prime Minister Adel Abdel Mahdi subsequently deposed local military commander Jamil al-Shummari. In Najaf, ten people were killed and two others died in the capital, Baghdad.Mahdi had recently commissioned the general to „restore order“ in Nassiriya. As the military leadership announced in the morning, the head of state sent several military commanders to the southern provinces to assist the governors and „control“ the security forces. In Nassirija, however, the violence escalated shortly after Schummari’s deployment.
Governor also resigned
In the face of violence, provincial governor Adel al-Dachili called on the government to immediately withdraw Schummari. The General had „failed to guarantee security in the province,“ said the governor, who also resigned last night. The general was the military commander of the southern port city of Basra, when in 2018 protests were forcibly suppressed there.
The violence in Nassirija escalated a few hours after angry demonstrators stormed and set fire to the Iranian consulate in the pilgrim town of Najaf. „Victory for Iraq“ and „Iran Out,“ the protesters shouted during the nocturnal protests before a curfew was imposed. The demonstrators are outraged that Iran is supporting the government they have been taking to the streets for weeks.
