Thousands of followers of an influential Shiite cleric stormed Iraq’s parliament on Saturday, for the second time in a week, to protest government formation efforts led by Iran-backed groups.
Iraqi security forces initially used tear gas and sound bombs to try to repel the protesters, causing several injuries witnessed by reporters from The Associated Press. The Ministry of Health said it had received 60 injured patients.
The expected session of Parliament did not take place, and there were no legislators in the room.
Heeding calls from cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, protesters used ropes to pull down cement barricades leading to the gate of Iraq’s Green Zone. The district is home to official buildings and foreign embassies.
Protesters then occupied the parliament floor and raised the Iraqi flag and portraits of al-Sadr. It was the second time in three days that the cleric ordered his followers to sit in the Green Zone. The protests are a pressure tactic used by the cleric to derail government-formation efforts led by his political rivals in the Coalition Framework, an alliance of Iran-backed Shiite parties.
The protesters were followers of Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. AP
Iraq’s acting prime minister, Mustafa al-Kadhimi, ordered security forces to protect the protesters and asked them to keep their protest peaceful, according to a statement. Inside the Parliament building, the defenses of the security forces became less intense, and many were seen sitting and talking with the protesters.
Some demonstrators began to move from the parliament towards the Judicial Council building.
“We came today to eliminate the corrupt political class and prevent them from holding a session in parliament and to prevent the Framework from forming a government,” said 41-year-old Raad Thabet. “We have answered al-Sadr’s call.”
Protesters tore down barricades in Iraq’s Green Zone. AP Demonstrators occupied the parliament floor and held up images of Muqtada al-Sadr. AP
Al-Sadr’s party walked out of government formation talks in June, giving its rivals in the Coordination Framework alliance the majority they needed to move forward with the process.
Many protesters wore black to mark the days leading up to Ashura, which commemorates the death of Imam Hussein, grandson of the Prophet Mohamed and one of the most important figures in Shiite Islam. Al-Sadr’s message to his followers has used the important day in Shiite Islam to spark protests.
Al-Sadr has used his large grassroots following as leverage against his rivals.
On Wednesday, hundreds of his supporters stormed the parliament building after the Marc alliance named Mohammed al-Sudani as its presidential candidate and expressed his willingness to form a government despite his threats.