We call on those states responsible for the invasion and occupation of Iraq to terminate their illegal and immoral war, and express our solidarity with the Iraqi people in their struggle for peace, justice and self-determination.

In particular, we demand:

  1. An immediate end to the US and UK-led occupation of Iraq;
  2. Urgent action to fully address the current humanitarian crises facing Iraq’s people, including help for the more than three million refugees and displaced persons;
  3. An end to all foreign interference in Iraq's affairs, including its oil industry, so that Iraqis can exercise their right to self-determination;
  4. Compensation and reparations from those countries responsible for war and sanctions on Iraq;
  5. Prosecution of all those responsible for war crimes, human rights abuses, and the theft of Iraq's resources.

We demand justice for Iraq.

This statement was adopted by the Justice for Iraq conference in London on 19th July 2008. We plan to publish this more widely in future. If you would like to add your name to the list of supporters please contact us.

Sunday, 20 February 2011

More protests in Iraq

A selection of recent press stories on popular protest and the brutal response from the authorities:

Iraq man dies of self-immolation to protest rising unemployment

Haaretz reports (February 13th): n Iraqi man has died after setting himself ablaze in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul to protest against unemployment, police sources said. The 31-year-old man set himself on fire when he could not find a job, the sources told the German Press Agency DPA. He was married and had four children.
Thousands of Iraqis have been protesting this month, demanding better living standards, improved services and less corruption.

http://www.haaretz.com/news/international/iraq-man-dies-of-self-immolation-to-protest-rising-unemployment-1.343162

Mass protests at government corruption

Morning Star reports (February 14th): Thousands of working people rallied in central Baghdad to protest against rampant government corruption and the shabby state of public services in their occupied country.
The protesters massed in the capital's al-Tahrir Square in Bab al-Sharji and chanted slogans demanding that the government take action to get people into work, raise wages and rein in soaring food prices.
Many raised banners bearing the image of a broken heart, a reference to Valentine's Day, while others held up placards demanding that corrupt officials be held to account.
http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/index.php/news/content/view/full/101086

Iraq protesters demand electricity, jobs
AFP reports (February 15th): Hundreds of demonstrators took to the streets of Iraqi cities, inspired by popular protests around the Arab world, to demand job-creation programmes and better electricity supplies.
The biggest turnout was in Fallujah where about 800 protesters marched through the city of western Iraq that a bastion of the insurgency after the US-led invasion of 2003.
Groups of around 200 demonstrated in the ethnically-mixed city of Kirkuk in northern Iraq and the poor Shiite district of Sadr City in northeast Baghdad.
http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/3/12/5644/Business/Economy/Iraq-protesters-demand-electricity,-jobs.aspx


Three reported dead in Iraqi protests

LA Times reports (February 17th): Three people were reported killed and dozens wounded during a demonstration in the southeastern city of Kut after protesters set fire to several government buildings as the country was roiled by demonstrations for the second time in three days.
The protest in Kut, capital of Wasit province, was the latest demonstration in Iraq inspired by the popular uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt that ousted longtime Arab heads of state.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-iraq-protests-20110217,0,7978299.story

Fresh protests hit Iraqi cities
Al-Jazeera reports (February 18th): Violent protests have taken place at various locations in Iraq, with anti-government protesters rallying against corruption, poor basic services and high unemployment.
In Basra, the country's second largest city, about 1,000 people rallied, demanding better service delivery from the government, jobs and improved pensions.
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/02/2011218104510878522.html

Protests spread throughout Iraq

 

WSWS reports (February 18th): Protests spread to cities throughout Iraq, as demonstrators demanded jobs and social services and voiced their opposition to the various corrupt local authorities supported by the US-backed occupation regime. 

In Suleimaniyah, health officials stated that nine people were killed and over 47 injured when Kurdish peshmerga forces fired into a crowd of at least 3,000 people, protesting at the headquarters of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) led by Massoud Barzani. Demonstrators were protesting KDP corruption, and the lack of jobs and basic services. They chanted “Government resign,” “Work for the unemployed” and “The corrupt must face justice.”

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2011/feb2011/iraq-f18.shtml

Hundreds protest in Basra


Emg.rs  reports (February 18th): Several hundred demonstrators gathered Thursday in Basra, south Iraq, demanding the local governor's ouster while protesters in Nasir stormed a local government building, which are the latest examples of the anger sweeping the country over poor government services and high unemployment. 

About 600 people massed in front of the Basra provincial headquarters, guarded by the police. With the exception of some pushing and shoving, witnesses said the protest was largely peaceful, the AP reported. 

http://www.emg.rs/en/news/world/147633.html

Thousands protest in Iraq's Kurdish north over shooting; orphans, widows rally in Baghdad

CP reports (February 19th): Demonstrators thronged streets in northern Iraq to demand justice over a deadly shooting at a protest earlier this week. In Baghdad, hundreds of orphans and widows rallied to call on the government to take care of them.
The uprisings sweeping the Middle East have galvanized many in Iraq to demand better services from their leaders. The demonstrations in the capital and the northern city of Sulaimaniyah were peaceful, but five protesters were killed earlier this week.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5jXkUlhwYfaCg8IIn8sMyp3DqZ7LA?docId=6004225

5 Iraqis Killed, 18 Wounded

Anti-war.com reports (February 19th): At least five Iraqis were killed and 18 more were wounded in the latest violence, while one U.S. airman was killed in a non-combat incident. Demonstrations continue in Baghdad, Basra, and other locations, but today’s hotspot is again Suleimaniya.

Ten demonstrators suffered blunt-force injuries when about 1,000 people attempted to storm a Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) office in Suleimaniya. Another protest drew about 2,000 students on the campus of Suleimaniya University. The protestors demanded the resignation of the head of that office and called on Massoud Barzani, a member of the KDP and president of the Kurdistan Regional Government, to apologize for a deadly attack on protestors two days ago at the same offices. At leastfour more people were reported wounded.

http://original.antiwar.com/updates/2011/02/19/saturday-5-iraqis-killed-14-wounded/

Iraqi Refugees in Syria Voice Support for Protests in Iraq
Xinhua reports (February 17th): Iraqi refugees in Syrian voiced support for recent protests in their home country.
"These protests express people's anger on the bad government's services," Walid al-Hasani, a 55-year-old Iraqi refugee living in Damascus, told Xinhua, referring to protests in Iraq against rampant corruption, lack of public services, unemployment and unfair apportionment.
http://english.cri.cn/6966/2011/02/17/2321s621187.htm
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