Violence flares up again on Iraq's streets 

Baghdad's Tahrir Square has once again been the scene of mass protests against the Iraqi government. This time, Iraqis have taken to the streets to demand justice for all the protesters and activists killed since the demonstrations that began in 2019. According to the Iraqi High Commissioner for Human Rights (IHCHR), almost 600 protesters and 35 activists have been killed in the last three years. On the other hand, citizens continue to call for democracy and accuse the government of corruption. 

"We want to get rid of the ruling parties, we want real freedom, democracy and to make radical changes to the system," a young student told Al-Jazeera. However, these marches have united people of all ages and social groups. Older men and women have also come out to protest against political power. "My son has no future, my country has no future," says one elderly man. "I am old, my life is over, but I want a future for this generation," he added to the Qatari media.

The trigger for these protests was the killing of activist Ihab Jawad al-Wazni on 9 May in the city of Karbala. Relatives and other activists called on the population to demonstrate for an end to impunity for these crimes. At least two people have been killed and more than 150 injured since the anti-government marches began. The Iraqi Observatory for Human Rights has denounced police brutality, saying that "Iraqi forces are using excessive violence against demonstrators". The NGO has also warned of the high number of people tortured since 2019. Ali al-Bayati, Iraqi High Commissioner for Human Rights, reiterated the words of the Observatory, stressing the "systematic violence" against activists and demonstrators. On the other hand, the Iraqi government has announced that it will open "a transparent investigation into what happened in Tahrir Square". They have also assured that they support "freedom of peaceful protest".

Iraqis are called to the polls in October, but many protesters have decided not to vote and are calling for a boycott of the elections. "As long as armed groups are in power we will not participate," they say. Many citizens believe that armed militias connected to political formations are killing opposition figures such as activists. In the Karbala city of Al-Wazni, a popular protest movement has announced it will boycott the October elections. "We will not allow elections to take place while there are weapons everywhere and amid continued assassinations," it said. Iraq's foreign ministry has asked the UN Security Council for support and observers for the elections. Barham Saleh, the Iraqi president, has spoken to António Guterres, the UN secretary general, to ask for international monitoring during the elections.

The NGO Human Rights Watch (HRW) warns of low voter turnout and blames the authorities for Iraqis not going to the polls. "The climate of fear that the authorities have created will limit the ability of Iraqis who have been calling for change to participate in the upcoming parliamentary elections," says a report.

These protests are part of the so-called "Tishreen Revolution", demonstrations that began in 2019 and are very reminiscent of the Arab Spring. The Iraqi streets are chanting slogans in favour of democracy, human rights and against the government, corruption and the economic situation. Iraq has been mired in a precarious social and economic crisis for years. The US invasion and subsequent wars have affected all sectors of the country. Moreover, citizens accuse the rulers of corruption instead of fixing the situation. According to Transparency International's index, Iraq is among the most corrupt countries in the world. Recently, Barham Saleh revealed that $150 billion had been fraudulently taken out of Iraq since 2003. "These illegal funds were enough to improve the country's situation," Saleh said. For this reason, he has pushed through a law to combat embezzlement. Under the new law, all transactions over $500,000 will be scrutinised, as will bank accounts that have held more than $1 million.