BAGHDAD: Thousands of Iraqis rallied in the heart of Baghdad on Friday, in defiance of warnings from the government to stay home, to demand an end to sectarianism and corruption.
The demonstrators massed in Tahrir Square despite a decree from the security forces late on Thursday that the rally called by populist Shiite cleric Moqtada Al-Sadr was “unauthorized” and would be treated as a “terrorist threat.”
Al-Sadr has led repeated protests, some of them breaching the central Green Zone government and diplomatic compound, calling for an end to what he says is a corrupt power-sharing system between the country’s rival sectarian and political factions.
“Yes, yes to reform. No, no to sectarianism. No, no to corruption,” read the placards brandished by protesters.
The rally went ahead despite a warning from Iraq’s Joint Operations Command that it would not be tolerated and concerns that divisions within Iraq’s Shiite majority community might undermine the fight against the Sunni extremists of the Daesh group.
Internet connections were cut.
Al-Sadr visited Tahrir Square briefly on Wednesday wearing military fatigues instead of his usual clerical robe and turban, raising fears of a possible confrontation. Abadi then toured several security checkpoints late on Thursday in an apparent attempt to bolster his image amid a rising wave of public outcry with residents blaming the government for failing to provide security.
Emotions in Baghdad are still raw following a suicide bombing in the central Karrada district on July 3, claimed by Daesh, that killed at least 292 people, making it one of the worst among the hundreds of such attacks carried out in Iraq since US-led forces toppled Saddam Hussein 13 years ago.
Al-Sadr has called for a government of technocrats to replace the current party-affiliated ministers — a measure proposed by Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi — and has organized repeated demonstrations calling for that change.
Abadi first called for a Cabinet including technocrats in February, but has faced significant opposition from powerful political forces that rely on control of ministries for patronage and funds.
The demonstrators massed in Tahrir Square despite a decree from the security forces late on Thursday that the rally called by populist Shiite cleric Moqtada Al-Sadr was “unauthorized” and would be treated as a “terrorist threat.”
Al-Sadr has led repeated protests, some of them breaching the central Green Zone government and diplomatic compound, calling for an end to what he says is a corrupt power-sharing system between the country’s rival sectarian and political factions.
“Yes, yes to reform. No, no to sectarianism. No, no to corruption,” read the placards brandished by protesters.
The rally went ahead despite a warning from Iraq’s Joint Operations Command that it would not be tolerated and concerns that divisions within Iraq’s Shiite majority community might undermine the fight against the Sunni extremists of the Daesh group.
Internet connections were cut.
Al-Sadr visited Tahrir Square briefly on Wednesday wearing military fatigues instead of his usual clerical robe and turban, raising fears of a possible confrontation. Abadi then toured several security checkpoints late on Thursday in an apparent attempt to bolster his image amid a rising wave of public outcry with residents blaming the government for failing to provide security.
Emotions in Baghdad are still raw following a suicide bombing in the central Karrada district on July 3, claimed by Daesh, that killed at least 292 people, making it one of the worst among the hundreds of such attacks carried out in Iraq since US-led forces toppled Saddam Hussein 13 years ago.
Al-Sadr has called for a government of technocrats to replace the current party-affiliated ministers — a measure proposed by Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi — and has organized repeated demonstrations calling for that change.
Abadi first called for a Cabinet including technocrats in February, but has faced significant opposition from powerful political forces that rely on control of ministries for patronage and funds.
