Iraq – New pro Iran prime ministerial nominee unfit say demonstrators

Location: Baghdad – Iraq

Language: Arabic

Duration: 00:06:35

Sound: natural

Source: A24 in Iraq

Restrictions: A24 subscribers

Date: 30/07/ 2022

Storyline:

For the second time this week, supporters of populist Shiite cleric Moqtada Al Sadr stormed Iraq’s parliament to protest the nomination of  Mohammed Shia Al Sudani as the country’s next prime minister.

Al Sadr’s activists entered the Green Zone Saturday afternoon, raising Iraqi flags as they climbed over concrete barriers to reach into the Green Zone, the capital’s center of government institutions and foreign embassies.

After elections last October, Al-Sadr’s bloc came out as the biggest parliamentary  group but still fell far short of a majority.

“We demand services; we demand social care and health insurance; most of the protesters here have chronic diseases. The ruling class has caused enough damage to us and our country,” demonstrator Ahmed Majed told A24 as he headed towards the bridge that leads to the Green Zone.

Other protesters told  A24 that they reject Al Sudani, a veteran politician because he is aligned with former prime minister Nouri Al Maliki who they blame for the lack of basic infrastructure, services, and security.

Al Maliki and the parties backing Al Sudani are closely aligned with Iran, whose sway in Iraq Al Sadr has been opposing.

Shotlist:

– Soundbite (Abu Kazem – Protester):

“We demand the removal of the corrupt political elite, because they have done nothing to benefit the county. Iraq’s economy is continuously deteriorating. People who took to the streets today are the poor and low-income earners. Protesters are not here to support one party over another, they are here to demand the rights the have been deprived of since 2003. We demand to have services, human rights. We demand change to the current law so that everyone is held accountable without exception. We want justice.”

– Soundbite (Rahim al-Lami – Protester):

“First of all, we reject apportionment, because the entire ruling class consists of corrupt politicians who claim to control the judiciary and everyone. Those who fail the people should not be able to return to their positions. Second of all, Iraqis want a majority government. With regard to the judiciary, where is the independence… Faeq Zaidan claims he is independent but meets with Nouri al-Maliki and Qais Khazali and travels to Iran. None of the the political elite admit their lack of responsibility, they all defend al-Maliki, who has stated being involved in bloodshed of Iraqis from all sects.”

– Soundbite (Ahmed Majed – Protester):

“They all claim to have no involvement with the government, but they meet with Hammam Hamouda, Ammar al-Hakim, Hadi al-Amiri, Nour al-Maliki and Qais al-Khazali. These five are the source of the scourge in Iraq, they will bear responsibility for any bloodshed that might happen during these demonstrations. We refuse to let them keep using the popular mobilization as an excuse to impose their authority and control this gold mine of a country. We demand services, we demand social care and health insurance, most of the protesters here have chronic diseases. The ruling class have caused enough damage to us and our country. We demand they are removed and replaced with those who will guarantee a better future for Iraq and its people.”