2011 Iraqi protests

Public protests the 2011 anti-government protests the later Sunni led protests 2012–2013 Iraqi protests September 2020 2011 Iraqi protests the Arab Spring and the protests against the Iraq War Location Iraq AW.png Iraq * Corruption Poor national security Poor public services Unemployment Saudi & GCC intervention in Bahrain 12 February 2011 – 23 December 2011(02 12 2011 12 23 2011)https://www.hrw.org/news/2012/01/22/iraq-intensifying-crackdown-free-speech-protests Iraq: Intensifying Crackdown on Free Speech, Protests 22 January 2012 4 December 2016 1 September 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220901033553/https://www.hrw.org/news/2012/01/22/iraq-intensifying-crackdown-free-speech-protests live Demonstrations, riots at least 296 35 The 2011 Iraqi protests came in the wake of the Tunisian revolution and 2011 Egyptian revolution. They resulted in at least 35 deaths, including at least 29 on 25 February 2011, the "Day of Rage". Several protests in March were against the Saudi-led intervention in Bahrain.https://www.reuters.com/article/us-bahrain-iraq-idUSTRE72F4U220110316 Iraq's Sadr followers march against Bahrain crackdown Reuters 27 January 2012 16 March 2011 Khalid al-Ansary Baghdad 28 January 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200128200529/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-bahrain-iraq-idUSTRE72F4U220110316 liveSantana Rebecca Crackdown in Bahrain Enflames Iraq's Shiites https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=13280871 27 January 2012 2 April 2011 Associated Press Baghdad ABC News Protests also took place in Iraqi Kurdistan, an autonomous Kurdish region in Iraq's north, and lasted for 62 days. Background In an effort to prevent potential unrest, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki announced that he will not run for a third term in 2014, and called for a constitutional term limit.Eye on unrest, Iraq PM says he won't seek 3rd term Lara Jakes http://apnews.myway.com//article/20110205/D9L6OJH80.html Associated Press MyWay 5 February 2011 8 February 2011 10 March 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120310224908/http://apnews.myway.com//article/20110205/D9L6OJH80.html live Nevertheless, hundreds of protesters gathered in several major Iraqi urban areas on 12 February (notably Baghdad and Karbala) demanding a more effective approach to the issue of national security and investigation into federal corruption cases, as well as government action towards making public services fair and accessible. In response, the government of Iraq subsidised electricity costs. Protests Israel's Haaretz reported that a 31-year-old man in Mosul died after he self-immolated in protest against unemployment. Haaretz also reported a planned "Revolution of Iraqi Rage" to be held on 25 February near the Green Zone.Iraq man dies of self-immolation to protest rising unemployment https://www.haaretz.com/news/international/iraq-man-dies-of-self-immolation-to-protest-rising-unemployment-1.343162 Haaretz 13 February 2011 13 February 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110214081256/http://www.haaretz.com/news/international/iraq-man-dies-of-self-immolation-to-protest-rising-unemployment-1.343162 14 February 2011 dead Timeline 12 February Hundreds of protesters gathered in several major Iraqi urban areas, most notably in Baghdad and Karbala, demanding a more effective approach to the issue of national security and an investigation into federal corruption cases, as well as government action towards making public services fair and accessible.Egyptian revolution sparks protest movement in democratic Iraq Liz Sly https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/12/AR2011021202100.html The Washington Post 12 February 2011 12 February 2011 3 October 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20181003134723/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/12/AR2011021202100.html live Protesters in Iraqi Cities Demand Better Social Services, Corruption Probes https://www.rferl.org/a/iraq_protests/2305822.html Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty 12 February 2011 12 February 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110222070925/http://www.rferl.org/content/iraq_protests/2305822.html 22 February 2011 liveIraqis anger spelled out in street protests http://www.alsumaria.tv/en/Iraq-News/1-60223-Iraqis-anger-spelled-out-in-street-protests.html Al Sumaria 12 February 2011 12 February 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20120128064324/http://www.alsumaria.tv/en/Iraq-News/1-60223-Iraqis-anger-spelled-out-in-street-protests.html 28 January 2012 dead In response, the government of Iraq subsidised electricity costs.Iraq subsidises power after protests over services Ahmed Rasheed https://af.reuters.com/article/energyOilNews/idAFRAS22447520110212 https://web.archive.org/web/20110304003323/http://af.reuters.com/article/energyOilNews/idAFRAS22447520110212 dead 4 March 2011 Reuters Africa 12 February 2011 12 February 2011 16–18 February On 16 February, up to 2,000 protesters took over a provincial council building in the city of Kut. The protesters demanded the provincial governor resign due to a lack of basic services such as electricity and water. Up to three people were reported killed and 30 injured. On 17 February, two people were killed as protesters threw stones at the headquarters of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, headed by Masoud Barzani, president of Iraq's semi-autonomous northern Kurdish region in Sulaimaniya, Iraqi Kurdistan.Two killed, 47 hurt in Iraq protest violence https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iraq-protests-idUSTRE71G6PF20110217 Reuters 17 February 2011 26 April 2011 1 February 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160201174845/http://www.reuters.com/article/us-iraq-protests-idUSTRE71G6PF20110217 live On 18 February, around a thousand demonstrators blockaded a bridge in Basra, demanding the resignation of the provincial governor.Demonstrators block bridge in south Iraqi city http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4030474,00.html Ynetnews 18 February 2011 20 February 2011 28 June 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110628181804/http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4030474,00.html live 23 February Lt. Gen. Abdul-Aziz Al-Kubaisi (ar عبد العزيز الكبيسي) resigned from his post as the Director General at the Iraqi Ministry of Defense, gave up his military rank, and removed it from his shoulders on television.http://www.shorouknews.com/ContentData.aspx?ID=395812 لعراق على طريق الثورة.. ضابط كبير ينضم للدعوة لمليونية الجمعة 23 February 2011 Shorouk News Shorouk 24 February 2011 27 February 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110227154421/http://www.shorouknews.com/ContentData.aspx?ID=395812 live Following this step, he was arrested by security forces. Al Kubaisi described the Iraqi government as corrupt and called on all officers to declare their resignation and join the demonstrators, who are planning a demonstration on 25 February. Three officers, including one colonel, responded to this call and announced their resignations. Uday Zaidi, who has previously organized protests, revealed that these officers have joined the demonstrations. Zaidi told Al Jazeera that 37 personnel from the Ministry of Interior have also resigned and joined the crowds of demonstrators. 24 February On 24 February, Muntadhar al-Zaidi, an Iraqi journalist famous for the 2008 shoeing incident, was arrested for allegedly taking part in the protests. Al-Zaidi is popular in Iraq for what Iraqis see as his act of defiance.Iraqi Shoe-Thrower Arrested for Supporting Protests https://www.voanews.com/a/iraqi-shoe-thrower-arrested-for-supporting-protests-116858193/175451.html Voice of America 24 February 2011 25 February 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110227094642/http://www.voanews.com/english/news/middle-east/iraq/Iraqi-Shoe-Thrower-Arrested-for-Supporting-Protests-116858193.html 27 February 2011 live 25 February–"Day of Rage" Major protests were held throughout Iraq on 25 February, centering on the nation's high unemployment, corruption, and poor public services.Tensions flare in Iraq rallies http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/02/2011224192028229471.html Al Jazeera English 25 February 2011 25 February 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110225091237/http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/02/2011224192028229471.html 25 February 2011 live During the protests, crowds stormed provincial buildings, in addition to jailbreaking prisoners and forcing local officials to resign. At least twenty-nine people were killed across the country as a result of protests on this day, though the deadliest protests took place in Iraqi Kurdistan.11 killed as Iraqis protest in 'Day of Rage' Sinan Salaheddin https://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110225/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_iraq Yahoo! News 25 February 2011 25 February 2011 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20110227045728/http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110225/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_iraq 27 February 2011 http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/02/26/3149626.htm?section=world Toll rises as Iraq, Yemen protests rage ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) 26 February 2011 24 April 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110423075709/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/02/26/3149626.htm?section=world 23 April 2011 deadhttps://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/26/AR2011022601854.html The Washington Post Stephanie McCrummen Iraq 'Day of Rage' protests followed by detentions, beatings 26 February 2011 20 September 2017 19 October 2017 https://web.archive.org/web/20171019114805/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/26/AR2011022601854.html live 26 February Protests were diminished from the 25 February "Day of Rage," due to the deaths that resulted during it. Hundreds were detained by Iraqi security forces, including journalists, artists, and intellectuals. One of the artists that was arrested, Hussam al-Ssair, later stated that "It was like they were dealing with a bunch of al-Qaeda operatives, not a group of journalists." 16 March New protests arose at Baghdad and Basra against the Saudi-led intervention in Bahrain. 17 March At Kerbela about 3,000 people demonstrated against Saudi Arabia.http://www.neuepresse.de/Nachrichten/Politik/Deutschland-Welt/Anspannung-in-Bahrain-USA-machen-Druck Anspannung in Bahrain - USA machen Druck 17 March 2011 19 July 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110719065420/http://www.neuepresse.de/Nachrichten/Politik/Deutschland-Welt/Anspannung-in-Bahrain-USA-machen-Druck dead Nouri al-Maliki criticized the Saudi intervention.Festnahmen nach Niederschlagung der Proteste in Bahrain http://de.reuters.com/article/topNews/idDEBEE72G08R20110317 https://web.archive.org/web/20110318102752/http://de.reuters.com/article/topNews/idDEBEE72G08R20110317 dead 18 March 2011 27 January 2012 17 March 2011 Manama de Reuters Deutschland Arrests after crackdown on protests in Bahrain April–May Beginning on 9 April 2011, the 8th anniversary of the fall of Saddam Hussein, the protests escalated with thousands protesting in Baghdad's Tahrir Square (Liberation Square) and all over the country.Angry crowds in Baghdad, Falluja protest conditions in Iraq http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/meast/04/08/iraq.protests/index.html 9 April 2011 2023-01-23 CNN en 23 January 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230123140138/http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/meast/04/08/iraq.protests/index.html liveCauter Lieven De 2011-04-24 From Baghdad's Own Tahrir Square to Mosul: The Friday of the Free https://truthout.org/articles/from-baghdads-own-tahrir-square-to-mosul-the-friday-of-the-free/ 2023-01-23 Truthout en-US 23 January 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230123140147/https://truthout.org/articles/from-baghdads-own-tahrir-square-to-mosul-the-friday-of-the-free/ live The protests extended to anger at the US occupation, and culminated on 26 May 2011 with a demonstration organized by Muqtada al-Sadr. Reports of participants vary from 100 thousand (Iraq's official Al Sabaah)Sadrist movement protest Al Sabaah (in Arabic), 26 May 2011. Retrieved Nov 2012. to half a million people (Baghdad's independent New Sabah [ar]).Sadrist movement protest New Sabah (in Arabic), 26 May 2011. Retrieved Nov 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20121228215416/http://www.newsabah.com/ar/2012/7/54636/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AA%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B5%D8%AF%D8%B1%D9%8A-%D9%8A%D8%AA%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%AC%D8%B9-%D9%88%D9%82%D9%88%D9%89-%D8%B3%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%B3%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%AA%D9%86%D9%82%D8%AA%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA%D8%B9%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%B6%D9%87.htm?tpl=13 28 December 2012 (The highest figures are not unlikely, as similar protests by Muqtada al-Sadr have drawn up to a million people, as in 20072007-04-10 Moqtada rallies Shia to demand withdrawal of foreign troops http://www.theguardian.com/world/2007/apr/10/iraq.iraq 2023-01-23 the Guardian en 23 January 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230123192229/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2007/apr/10/iraq.iraq live and 2012.2012-03-19 Iraq's Sadr stages Shi'ite show of force before summit en Reuters https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iraq-sadr-idUSBRE82I0D320120319 2023-01-23 17 May 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210517103352/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iraq-sadr-idUSBRE82I0D320120319 live) 10 June thumb|June 2011 protests in Liberation Square, Baghdad About 400 protesters converged on Tahrir Square in Baghdad after Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's deadline for reform expired."Hundreds rally after Iraq deadline expires", Hürriyet Daily News. 10 June 2011. Retrieved 15 June 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110617211433/http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=hundreds-rally-after-iraq-deadline-expires-2011-06-10 17 June 2011 12 August Dozens protested in Tahrir Square, calling for Oil Minister Karim Luaibi to be fired, a planned port named for ex-President of Egypt Hosni Mubarak to be scrapped, and political prisoners to be released.Alsumaria http://www.alsumaria.tv/en/Iraq-News/1-67497-Iraqis-protest-in-Tahrir-Square.html Iraqis protest in Tahrir Square 12 August 2011 12 August 2011 9 September 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110909024451/http://www.alsumaria.tv/en/Iraq-News/1-67497-Iraqis-protest-in-Tahrir-Square.html dead 2 December The 2011 Duhuk riots refers to riots by Muslim Kurds on 2 December 2011 which were instigated by Friday prayers' sermons calling for Jihad against liquor stores and massage parlours in Zakho in the Duhok Governorate, Iraq. The riots soon developed to looting and burning down of Assyrian and Yazidi-owned properties in other towns in Iraqi Kurdistan over the next couple of days. Responses Domestic In response to the initial round of protests, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said that his ministers who do not improve their ministries face dismissal. An MP also called for provincial elections to be brought forward by two years. See also Iraqi insurgency (post-U.S. withdrawal) 2011 Kurdish protests in Iraq 2011 Dohuk riots 2012–2013 Iraqi protests References Category:Protests in Iraq Protests Category:2011 protests Iraq Category:Protests against the Iraq War Category:2011 in Baghdad