BAGHDAD: Shiite cleric Moqtada Al Sadr on Wednesday blasted a ban on public rallies in the Iraqi capital, saying it was “undemocratic” and based on fear of rising protests.
Iraq’s government announced last week demonstrations would be allowed only at three football stadiums, ostensibly because shopkeepers in the city’s main Tahrir Square complained of losing trade during weekly protests.
“The government claims democracy, and this is undemocratic,” Sadr said in a written response to queries about the protest ban from his supporters.
Sadr loyalists have staged several large rallies in Baghdad and other parts of Iraq, most recently when tens of thousands turned up for an anti-US protest earlier this month in the capital.
“I think this decision shows the government’s fear of demonstrations. The move is ridiculous and meaningless,” said the cleric, who is currently based in Iran to further religious studies.
Protests against poor supply of basic services such as electricity have grown in Iraq since late February, after uprisings toppled entrenched regimes in Tunisia and Egypt.
Iraq’s government announced last week demonstrations would be allowed only at three football stadiums, ostensibly because shopkeepers in the city’s main Tahrir Square complained of losing trade during weekly protests.
“The government claims democracy, and this is undemocratic,” Sadr said in a written response to queries about the protest ban from his supporters.
Sadr loyalists have staged several large rallies in Baghdad and other parts of Iraq, most recently when tens of thousands turned up for an anti-US protest earlier this month in the capital.
“I think this decision shows the government’s fear of demonstrations. The move is ridiculous and meaningless,” said the cleric, who is currently based in Iran to further religious studies.
Protests against poor supply of basic services such as electricity have grown in Iraq since late February, after uprisings toppled entrenched regimes in Tunisia and Egypt.
Agence France-Presse
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