Reporting by PMOI/MEK
Iran, November 10, 2019—Various sources and news outlets are reporting on measures taken by Iranian regime Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei through Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) Quds Force chief Qassem Soleimani attempting to maintain the pro-Iran Iraqi government in power in Baghdad. Soleimani paid a visit to Iraq in this regard and met with senior political officials and leading figures, emphasizing on their insistence to keep Adel Abdul-Mahdi in power as the Iraqi prime minister, according to Agence France Presse.
The general anger that erupted on October 1st and resulted in demonstrations against corruption and unemployment has evolved into calls for regime change across the country, the AFP report added with various images of oppressive security forces attacking demonstrators.
Karbala, southern #Iraq
“Iran, out, out! Karbala will be free!”#Iranpic.twitter.com/KxpGutn7JE— People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) 8 November 2019
Abdul-Mahdi came to power last year
He pledged to resolve the country’s corruption and unemployment issues. However, he himself has now become the target of these protests and has been accused to command a bloody crackdown that has resulted in at least 300 dead and over 15,000 injuries.
Ever since October demonstrations in Iraq and Lebanon have been injecting new energy to the Middle East as hundreds of thousands of youths have poured into the streets repeating the slogans of the 2011 Arab Spring demanding regime change, according to Time magazine. If the demonstrators learn from the past defeats, it can lead to a good future. However, if the Iranian regime intends to hinder these uprisings, the result can be bloody. The resemblance between demonstrations in Iraq and Lebanon is striking…
Khamenei has currently expressed his thoughts about protests in Lebanon and Iraq, focusing his efforts to quell the demonstrations.
The protesters have learned from previous Arab Spring experiences to use large crowds to overcome security forces in order. They have refused to retreat even a few centimeters from Baghdad’s Tahrir and Beirut’s Shohada (Martyrs) squares, the Time report adds. They are using social media to gain global attention and their mobile phone cameras are always active. Although the Iraqi government has cut internet access, the youth have found other methods to send their messages and videos to the outside world.
From the first day of protests in #Iraq, Iraqi women have courageously stood side by side with the demonstrators, also expressing outrage at the corruption ravaging their nation.pic.twitter.com/4PDhGVrdNn
— People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) 7 November 2019
Activists in Lebanon and Iraq are sending non-sectarian and nationalist messages that are completely in contrast to the ruling governments that are based on sectarian and religious divides.
Saturday evening Baghdad witnessed the bloodiest clashes between government forces and the demonstrators around Al-Sinak Bridge and the entrances of Tahrir Square, according to Al Arabia Al Hadath TV. Government forces used several different routes to gain control over Tahrir Square, resorting to live bullets that lead to the deaths of at least six people and dozens of others injured. The youth and other demonstrators were continuing their efforts to maintain control over Tahrir Square.
In Basra, southern Iraq, demonstrations entered their third week with full forces as locals, like in other cities, are demanding major changes in a government riddled with corruption, according to Sky News TV. The streets of Basra have become scenes of hit-and-run clashes between demonstrators and security forces on Saturday.
Karbala, #Iraq
Iraqis taking over #Iran‘s consulate.pic.twitter.com/RwoG9ot05j— People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) 4 November 2019
