There is a clear contradiction between the statistics of the Human Rights Commission regarding the exact number of casualties.
Baghdad – News Time
The number of people killed in sleep by unknown armed elements or security forces groups has grown to hundreds in nationwide public protests and demonstrations since October 1 last year. Regarding the exact number of casualties, however, there is a clear contradiction between the statistics of the government departments of health and the Human Rights Commission. According to data released by the state health authorities on Sunday, from October 25, 2019 to January 31, 2020, 287 civilians and 5 security personnel were killed. In contrast, the Human Rights Commission of Iraq announced in its announcement Sunday evening that a total of 556 people have lost their lives during the protests since October 25, 2019. The dead included 13 security personnel.
Remember that Iraqi President Barham Salih spoke during his address January 22 in Davos Economic Forum more than 600 innocent protesters and several security personnel have been killed during violent acts in Iraq. It should be noted that in Iraq since last year, October 1 has been witnessing strong public protests. Initially, the protesters had called for improvement of the economic situation and the maintenance of corruption. They later turned to political demands aimed at the formation of an autonomous government representing the mass movement and premature parliamentary elections.
On the other hand, there is a public protest against the newly appointed Prime Minister of Iraq, Mohammed Tawfik Allawi. On the eve of protests against the new prime minister on Sunday, Baghdad’s writing was filled with protesters. The protesters refused to accept Mohammed Tawfik Allawi as prime minister. The latest development in this regard is that protesters groups have given Mohammed Tawfik Allawi a few days to resign.
Al-Raqabi, a prominent social worker in Nasiriyah, the central city of Iraq’s southern province of Dhi Qar, has urged the public to give the new prime minister some time. The purpose of the period is to know how serious Allawi is in fulfilling public demands and applying the conditions of the protesters. Among these demands are the accountability of the top protesters’ killers and the preparation for pre-parliamentary elections. Al-Raqabi made two suggestions to demonstrators in a video posted on social media Sunday night. The first suggestion was to directly reject Mohammed Tawfik Allawi, which would bring the matter back to Zero Point and there would be again a dispute over the nominee. Second, the new prime minister should be put to the test of implementation of patriotic demands. On the contrary, Sunday night protesters in the city of Alafaya, Dhi Qar province, granted three days to Mohammed Tawfik Allawi to resign and apologize for the formation of a new government.
On the other hand, demonstrators at the Square written in Baghdad issued a statement Sunday night. In addition to the crackdown by security officials, the statement condemns the kidnapping and hiding of hundreds of workers and tortures them. Similarly, the protesters also expressed dissatisfaction over the situation in the protests following the recent confrontation with supporters of Muqtada al-Sadr. Demonstrators emphasized that peaceful protests and opinions are the right of the people, guaranteed by the law and the constitution. He said that ending the sit-in on the strength of power would not be of any benefit. The demonstration was gestured by the supporters of Muqtada al-Sadr.
Earlier on Sunday, thousands of people in the Iraqi capital protested against the nomination of Prime Minister Mohammed Tawfik Allawi. There were rallies in several cities across the country over Mohammed Tawfik Allawi’s rejection of the new government’s formation. Meanwhile, dozens of protesters held banners in the cities of Hilla and Diwaniyah. He wrote that Mohammed Tawfik Allawi is a candidate not for the people but for the Iranian militias. On this occasion, some protesters blocked roads.
