Students join Iraq protests; schools close
IRAQIS ARE DEFYING A CRACKDOWN TO PROTEST AGAINST RULING ELITE
Iraqi students joined anti-government protests in Baghdad yesterday, ramping up the street pressure on Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi, who also faced a surprise sit-in from parliament’s largest bloc.
The capital and country’s south have been rocked by a second wave of demonstrations since Thursday, with protesters digging in despite tear gas, curfews and violence that has left over 60 dead.
Last morning, students could be seen joining demonstrations in the capital, with activists saying about a dozen schools and universities had decided to shut their doors and take part in protests en masse.
In the emblematic Tahrir Square, young girls in school uniforms with rucksacks were seen trekking through streets littered with tear gas canisters.
Hundreds of protesters had hunkered down in the square, defying heavy tear gas use overnight and pledging to “weed out” the political class.
We are here to bring down the entire government and to weed out all of the corrupt politicians in Iraq.” Iraqi protester
Our generation is psychologically tired, but it’s alright as long as this is for the next one.” Iraqi nurse protester
Exceptionally violent
“We’re here to bring down the whole government — to weed them all out!” one protester said, the Iraqi tricolour wrapped around his head.
The protests are unprecedented in recent Iraqi history for their ire at the entire political class, including Abdul Mahdi, parliament speaker Mohammad Al Halbussi and even traditionally revered religious leaders.
They have also been exceptionally violent, with 157 dead in the first set of rallies and 63 dead in the latest round.
Women were also seen in larger numbers, including a young nurse who said she was protesting “for the generation that’s coming”.
“Our generation is psychologically tired, but it’s alright as long as this is for the next one,” she said.