Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdel Mahdi’s cabinet issued a series of reforms early Sunday after an “extraordinary” session overnight in response to sweeping anti-government rallies that have left nearly 100 dead.
#Iraq Protestors literally trapped in a war zone. Their uprising met with RPG, live ammunition and gunfire.
This is the country where US spent ~ 1.9 trillion $ to “liberate” its people. Baghdad, Day 6, 99 dead so far: https://t.co/ccAoTnmRFu
— Joyce Karam (@Joyce_Karam) October 7, 2019
Iraqis have gathered in Baghdad and across the south since Tuesday to demand widespread government reforms, which Abdel Mahdi had promised to tackle when he came into power just under a year ago.
Early Sunday, his cabinet issued a decree including more than a dozen planned reforms, including land distributions, military enlistment and increased welfare stipends for needy families.
Local authorities also recently cleared housing units built without proper permits, which a total of three million Iraqis live in across the country.
In response to staggering youth unemployment, which has reached around 25 percent according to the World Bank, the government said it would create large market complexes and boost benefits for those without work.
In the southern city of Kut last month, a young Iraqi man died after he set himself alight in despair after authorities seized his mobile kiosk.
The public sector remains the largest employer in Iraq, a country of 40 million people, but it has struggled to absorb new university graduates in recent years.
Read more: One dead as new protests shake south Iraq, reach Baghdad
Local authorities also recently cleared housing units built without proper permits, which a total of three million Iraqis live in across the country.
This was Iraq last night. Police fired live ammo into a crowd of thousands who were protesting high unemployment, poor services and corruption. At least 20 civilians were killed. It has been 16 years since America brought “democracy” to the country. pic.twitter.com/2vX10ZbN63
— Andrew Kimmel (@andrewkimmel) October 3, 2019
Starting Tuesday, protesters gathered in Baghdad and spread to the country’s Shiite-majority south, defying an internet blackout, tear gas and even live rounds.
The mainly male, young crowds say they are not backed by any political or religious establishment and have attacked a broad range of political party offices.
In the southern city of Kut last month, a young Iraqi man died after he set himself alight in despair after authorities seized his mobile kiosk.
The Iraqi Human Rights Commission said Saturday that 99 people have died and nearly 4,000 have been wounded since protests kicked off.
The government has officially designated those killed as “martyrs,” granting their families a special set of benefits.
Read more: Iraq cleric Sadr demands immediate elections as protests continue
Parliament speaker Mohammed al-Halbusi also pledged a range of reforms in a meeting with lawmakers on Saturday, but did not hold his planned legislative session as the body failed to reach quorum.
AFP with additional input by GVS News Desk.