By Eric C. Sigmund
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Tensions between anti-government protesters and security forces came to a boiling point Thursday spurring clashes and leaving at least one dead and 57 injured in Sulaimaniyah.  Police forces stormed the streets to disband protesters by shooting into the air.  When this failed to disrupt the rallies, police forces turned their weapons on the protesters.  Anti-government protests have been conducted in the Kurdish region of Iraq for a few days; surely precipitated by events in North Africa and elsewhere in the region.  Protesters attacked the headquarters of the Kurdistan Democratic Party and the office and house of the regions Governor.  Participation in protests grew Thursday after security forces killed three protesters in the city of Kut, one of the poorest cities in the country, the day before.

 The streets of many cities have begun to resemble the images of Tahrir Square, now iconic throughout the world as a site of resistance against government oppression.  Protesters have set up tents to camp in and control main streets and squares.  Protester’s carrying banners “Down with al-Maliki, down with the corruption, down with the thieves” have demanded political reforms to address unchecked corruption, high levels of unemployment and the poor state of government services.  They have also called for the release of 45 persons arrested during the opposition rally in Kut.

Some analysts warn that these protests could further divide the country along ethnic lines and risk creating mass violence.  Ibrahim Sumaiedi, a political analyst, commented “Society is divided along ethnic and sectarian lines, and everyone is armed.  If this happens in other cities in Iraq, we will face not reform or change but something far more devastating.”

Protests have already spread to other cities including Fallujah, Basra and Kirkuk.  Municipal leaders are feeling the pressure as citizens have begun demanding their resignation throughout the country.  In the Wasit province, over 2000 people took to the streets to demand change.  One protester Mahdi al-Yasiry, 37 years-old and unemployed, stated that “Everything in this province is bad.  No gas.  No electricity.  No Jobs. No nothing.”  Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has imposed an indefinite curfew on the province and has called for an investigation into the causes of local unrest.

The government has urged citizens to protest peacefully.  Prime Minister al-Maliki reported that he was “happy to see the Iraqis are able to protest” but condemned the arson and destruction of government buildings.   The Prime Minister acknowledged that Iraqi citizens had a right to complain but contended that Saddam Hussein is to blame for the failures in the government’s social and economic policy.

For more information please see:

CNN World – 1 Killed, 57 injured in Iraqi Kurdish Protests – Feb. 17, 2011

Los Angeles Times – Iraq: At Least Two Protesters Dead – Feb. 17, 2011

New York Times – Protests Spread to More Iraqi Cities – Feb. 17, 2011

UPI – Five Killed in Further Iraq Protests – Feb. 17, 2011

By Eric C. Sigmund
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

MANAMA, Bahrain – Protests in the Middle East continue to spread and escalate as angry citizens test the resolve of their governments in Bahrain and Iran.  Energized by the ousting of Hosni Mubarak in Egypt, thousands have flooded the streets in recent days to demand more rights and freedom from government tyranny.  Now the situation has turned deadly.  Protests in both countries have met fierce resistance by police forces ordered to break up opposition rallies by government officials. 

           At least 2 people were killed and 50 injured Wednesday in Bahrain as security forces reportedly lobbed tear gas into crowds and attacked groups of protestors in Manama’s Pearl Square.  Witnesses also reported that the forces shot rubber bullets at those fleeing the square.  Pearl Square has been dubbed the new Tahrir Square and has been the focal point of the growing opposition in the Middle East over the last few days.  The protests, which started Monday, proceeded peacefully and thousands remained in the square throughout the nights, sleeping in tents.   Thursday morning, the square is nearly empty, the stronghold of the opposition abandoned. 

Sheikh Ali Salman, general secretary of the Wefaq party, the main Shi’ite opposition party in the country, stated “We’re not looking for a religious state. We’re looking for a civilian democracy in which people are the source of power, and to do that we need a new constitution.”  King Hamad Bin Isa al-Khalifa presented a new constitution a decade ago which guaranteed more political rights to citizens but Salman and others argue that the leadership has not gone far enough and should embrace democracy. The Wefaq party has walked out of parliament.   

Clashes also erupted in Iran Wednesday at a funeral being held for a student shot during an opposition rally on Monday.  The protests in Iran, which are continuing into their second week, are the longest since those held after the reelection of President Ahmadinejad in 2009.  The government however, has not been timid in condemning the opposition.  Police forces have been given carte blanch in disrupting protests and dozens of people have been arrested.  While the protests in Iran are a clear indication of overwhelming dissatisfaction with the government, analysts fear that the movement will do little to shake up the ranks of government.   Only time will tell what may be the result of this latest anti-government moment in Iran but the leadership in Tehran has shown that it is willing to take every step to preserve its power.

A “Day of Rage” is also scheduled to begin in Libya on Thursday to protest the dictator Muammar Gaddafi.  Word of the protests spread rapidly through the social media networks Facebook and Twitter. Human rights groups have already warned about the likelihood of a security crackdown to quell and analysts are doubtful that the events which transpired in Egypt will occur again in Libya.  Many governments throughout the region feeling pressure from their citizenry have already given concessions and promised further reforms to calm dissent.   Gaddafi however, has been defiant and protestors have already faced violent resistance as several hundred people clashed with police forces on Tuesday.  Pro-Gaddafi groups have also turned out in large numbers to assist police forces suppressing the opposition.

For a country-by-country breakdown of the situation in the Middle East and North Africa click here.

For more information, please see:

Reuters Africa – Libyan Online Protesters Prepare for “Day of Rage” – Feb. 17, 2011

Agence France Presse – Bahrain Forces Break up Protesters’ Camp: Witnesses – Feb. 16, 2011

BBC – Middle East Protests: Country by Country – Feb. 16, 2011

DiscountVoucers.co.uk – Ahmadinejad Claims Iran Protests are Futile – Feb. 16, 2011

Reuters – Supporters, Opponents of Iran Govt Clash at Funeral – Feb. 16, 2011

Reuters – Two Dead as Bahrain Police Break Up Protests Camp – Feb. 16, 2011