Reports of the 'Assassination' of Four Organizers of Recent Protests in Iraq

Local Iraqi media and some Arab outlets reported the assassination of four organizers of recent protests in Iraq, which were held to demand improvements in public services and combat corruption. According to reports published by Iraqi sites such as 'Al-Sumaria', 'JBC News', and 'The Muslim Scholars Association', these four individuals were assassinated by 'unknown assailants'. Some Arab media outlets like 'Al Jazeera' and 'Sky News Arabia' also reported this news. According to these reports, Khalid Al-Akili, a civil activist, blogger, and Iraqi journalist who was one of the organizers of the protests, was assassinated on Sunday, September 8, in front of his house in Baghdad. On the same day, Muslim Haytham Al-Rakabi and Walid Said Al-Taie, two other organizers of the protests, were shot dead by 'unknown assailants' in the city of Nasiriyah, the capital of Dhi Qar province. Sheikh Sabah Al-Karamushi, one of the most prominent organizers of recent protests and sit-ins in Basra, also passed away due to severe injuries from a bomb explosion in his home. Tahrir Square in Baghdad and the main squares in major cities in central and southern Iraq have witnessed protests for several weeks demanding the punishment of corrupt officials and improvements in public services. Protesters are urging Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi to fulfill their demands and announce a timeline for his main actions. They also want the perpetrators of corruption to be identified and tried in court. Following the recent protests, which were sparked by poor services, especially in electricity supply during an unprecedented summer heat, Haider al-Abadi implemented a series of reforms. In his reforms, he abolished several positions, including three vice-presidencies and three deputy prime ministerships. He also downsized the government by merging some ministries and reducing the number of bodyguards for officials and personalities who use public funds. Within the framework of the Iraqi Prime Minister's reforms, several high-ranking officials have been banned from leaving the country for investigations into corruption, and some cases have been referred to the judiciary. Iraqi protesters expressed support for Mr. Abadi's reforms during a demonstration held on Friday, September 6. Previously, Ayatollah Ali Sistani, the highest Shia authority in Iraq, expressed support for Mr. Abadi's reforms and urged him to be 'bolder and more courageous' in his reforms and fight against corruption, rather than settling for 'some marginal actions'.