After Muqtada al-Sadr, the leader of the al-Sadr movement, announced on Monday that he was retiring from politics following the severe political crisis in Iraq, his supporters marched towards the fortified Green Zone in the capital city of Baghdad this afternoon. they did And they stormed the presidential palace, which caused the security forces to fire tear gas to disperse them and take back control of the headquarters.
Meanwhile, gunmen fired live ammunition into the crowd and clashed with demonstrators, killing two and injuring dozens, Reuters reported.
While the security forces had announced a total curfew in the country, this did not stop Sadr’s supporters from moving, and a number of protesters gathered in the green zone confirmed that seizure measures will be implemented in the coming hours.
In addition, sources reported that 35 demonstrators were injured after live bullets were fired by the crowd, as well as smoke bombs, and some of Sadr’s supporters clashed with gunmen.
Also, unknown elements attacked media reporters on the site.
Regarding the city of Sadr, he declared his full solidarity with the leader of Sadr and public warning, while it is expected that other areas will also witness the appearance of numerous demonstrations in the coming hours, especially in the southern provinces such as Wasit. Maysan, Dhi Qar, Basra and others, where he has wide support, because he knew that the protesters had come out in Basra, they blocked some roads with burnt tires.
Sadr’s supporters also entered the Dhi Qar governorate building and took control of it as well as the court building in Maysan.
Some observers believed that the country would witness some form of civil disobedience.
These developments took place after Sadr announced in a tweet on his Twitter account that he has decided to permanently retire and close all institutions of his movement except the shrine, museum, etc. Cultural Heritage Organization.
Al-Sadr mentioned that his life might be in danger because of his reform project and asked his fans to pray for him if he dies or is killed.
Meanwhile, the executive committee of the Sadr movement announced the end of its control over the street demonstrations, opening the Iraqi scene to all possibilities.
Sadr’s office also prevented the raising of flags, slogans and political slogans or speeches in the name of the movement in the media and communication platforms of his supporters and closed all accounts.
It is worth noting that this stage of retirement is taking place at a critical time in the country, especially since the ongoing political crisis since the last parliamentary elections held on October 10 (2021), last July (2022) with the intensification of the crisis It escalated. The difference between the Sadr movement and the framework that includes Nouri, Al-Maliki, Fatah coalition and pro-Iran factions and parties.
Source: Lebanon Debate
