2019–2021 Iraqi protests

2019–2021 Iraqi protests
Mohmmd Abd · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Name	2019–2021 Iraqi protests
Partof	Iraqi protests
Date	October 2019 – December 2021
Place	Baghdad, Basra, Najaf, Nasiriyah, Karbala, Sulaymaniyah, Erbil
Result	Resignation of Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi; cabinet reshuffle; ongoing political realignment

2019–2021 Iraqi protests were a series of mass demonstrations and civic actions centered in Baghdad and southern Basra that demanded widespread political reform, an end to corruption, and improved public services. Protesters, civil society groups, and militia-affiliated factions clashed with units from the Iraqi Armed Forces, Iraqi Police, and militias linked to the Popular Mobilization Forces, prompting resignations by officials such as Adel Abdul Mahdi and generating interventions by regional powers including Iran and responses from international organizations like the United Nations.

Background and causes

The protests drew on long-standing grievances dating to the 2003 invasion of Iraq by a coalition including the United States and influenced by sectarian dynamics involving Shia Islam parties such as Dawa Party and Islamic Dawa Party, Kurdish political dynamics involving the Kurdistan Democratic Party and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, and Sunni movements influenced by the aftermath of the Iraq War (2003–2011). Economic discontent rooted in oil dependency associated with the Iraq National Oil Company and the Iraqi Constitution intersected with corruption scandals implicating figures from Muqtada al-Sadr's bloc to the State of Law Coalition, and fueled demands echoed by labor unions, student activists from universities like University of Baghdad, and activists linked to groups such as Iraqi Women Network. Environmental crises including protests over water shortages in provinces like Maysan Governorate and Dhi Qar Governorate added urgency to demands that referenced prior uprisings, including the 2011 Iraqi protests, and regional demonstrations such as the 2019–2020 Lebanese protests.

Timeline of protests

Protests began in October 2019 with mass sit-ins in Tahrir Square (Baghdad) and expanded to southern cities like Basra and Najaf. October–November 2019 saw clashes with units linked to the Federal Police (Iraq) and interventions by paramilitary formations associated with the Popular Mobilization Forces. The escalation included the storming of the Green Zone (Baghdad) and attacks on diplomatic missions including the United States embassy attack in 2019. In December 2019 the cabinet of Adel Abdul Mahdi resigned, and protests continued into 2020 with renewed demonstrations after the assassination of activist Muhammad al-Tamimi and targeted killings allegedly linked to groups with ties to Kata'ib Hezbollah and other militias also tied to Hashd al-Shaabi. The US airstrike that killed Qasem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis in January 2020 further complicated dynamics, prompting rallies involving factions aligned with Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq and calls from leaders like Barham Salih for restraint. Through 2020 and 2021 electoral cycles involving the Iraqi parliamentary election, 2021 protesters contested lists such as those associated with Hadi al-Amiri and contested the role of parties like Al-Fatah Alliance while drafting reform demands codified by groups like the Committee for the Protection of Protesters.

Government response and security forces

Security responses involved coordinated operations by the Iraqi Security Forces, including the Iraqi Counter Terrorism Service and local provincial police, alongside militias integrated into the Popular Mobilization Forces and brigades linked to leaders such as Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis before his death. Iraqi cabinets under Adel Abdul Mahdi and subsequent prime ministers such as Mustafa Al-Kadhimi authorized measures including curfews and internet restrictions enforced by the Communications and Media Commission (Iraq). Tactics attributed to security elements included live fire, sniper deployment, and the use of tear gas and stun grenades documented by journalists from outlets like Al Jazeera and The New York Times. Judicial actors including the Supreme Judicial Council of Iraq and commissions appointed by parliament such as inquiry panels faced pressure to investigate alleged violations while provincial governors in Dhi Qar, Maysan, and Basra Governorate coordinated local crackdowns.

Political and social impact

Politically, protests forced the resignation of Adel Abdul Mahdi and influenced the 2021 electoral landscape, affecting parties from State of Law Coalition to Kurdish lists like Kurdistan Alliance Party. Civil society organizations including Iraqi Civil Society Solidarity Initiative and media groups such as Rudaw amplified demands for constitutional reform and anti-corruption measures targeting institutions such as the Supreme Federal Court (Iraq) and ministries like the Ministry of Electricity (Iraq). Socially, movements involving youth activists, students from Mosul University, labor unions in Basra Oil Company, and women's rights advocates including members of Al-Amal Association reshaped public discourse on citizenship and sectarian patronage linked to the Sadrist Movement. The protests also precipitated reshuffles involving figures such as Mohammed Allawi and debates within blocs like Coordination Framework over power-sharing and appointments to the Presidency of Iraq.

Human rights, casualties and investigations

Human rights organizations including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch reported mass casualty incidents, documenting deaths and injuries attributed to sniper fire, live ammunition, and torture in detention. Casualty counts compiled by groups such as the Iraqi High Commission for Human Rights and the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) estimated hundreds killed and thousands injured, while allegations of enforced disappearances implicated militias like Kata'ib Hezbollah and arrests by units of the Iraqi Police. Investigations by parliamentary committees and international advocacy led to calls for prosecutions of officials ranging from interior ministers to commanders within the Iraqi Armed Forces, though implementation faced resistance from political blocs including Fatah and external influence from states like Iran and Turkey.

International reactions and regional implications

International reactions ranged from statements by the United Nations Security Council and European Union to diplomatic engagement by the United States Department of State, which adjusted policies toward Coalition (Anti‑ISIL) partners. Neighboring states including Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey monitored developments with varying responses, and regional actors like Qatar and United Arab Emirates undertook mediation efforts. The protests intersected with regional crises including the Iran–United States tensions after the killing of Qasem Soleimani and raised concerns among international financial institutions such as the International Monetary Fund regarding economic reform conditionality tied to Iraq's oil revenues managed by the Central Bank of Iraq.

Category:Protests in Iraq Category:2019 protests Category:2020 protests Category:2021 protests