Washington (Kavian Press) – Thousands of Iraqis gathered in the capital city of Baghdad and the country’s south on Thursday to mark the first anniversary of the nationwide protests lasted for months last year, asking for fundamental reforms in the government.
The demonstrators who said will revive the long lasting last year’s protest, demanded youth employment, functioning public services and the guarantee of transparent elections, in a country struggling with corruption and caught in between United States and Iran each fighting to gain regional influence.
Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, who was appointed in May 2020 as a result of those protests, has praised the demonstrations.
Protesters waved the Iraqi flag and chanted “free revolutionaries, we will continue the path”. Some sang patriotic songs while clapping.
“The old government and the new one have made a lot of promises, but nothing has happened,” said demonstrator Hassan al-Miyahi.
The demonstrators have sat the date for the next protest, October 25, if their demands are not met by the government.
