Baghdad, Dec 12 (UNI) At least 424 people have been killed and 8,758 injured in Iraq protests since October 2018, said a report issued by the human rights office of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq UNAMI on the demonstrations in Iraq
"Since the beginning of last October, violence during the demonstrations had killed at least 424 people, and wounded at least 8,758, including members of the Iraqi security forces," the report said.
Also, the report indicated that the number of wounded includes those who were killed in the attacks recorded by UNAMI, and does not include the thousands of demonstrators who received treatment due to other injuries, especially as a result of inhaling tear gas, while it is estimated that these numbers have reached 19,000.
"Human rights violations and abuses continue, including the unlawful and inappropriate use of force, ill-treatment and procedural rights violations of detained protesters," the report added.
Iraq nationals have been protesting against country's deteriorating economic conditions and state corruption for past one year now.
The protesters are mostly young – students, unemployed, or underemployed – Iraqis who are dissatisfied with services and opportunities in the country. They haven't formally organized, and the protests are not dominated by any particular political groups. It is leaderless, in that sense, and very informal, often groups of friends, schoolmates, and neighborhood groups.
UNI XC-RHK1752