Tens of thousands of Iraqis march to protest US presence and demand withdrawal of US troops
‘Withdraw or Prepare Coffins’: Iraqi Protesters Demand US Troops Exit
(January 24, 2020) — “Get out, get out, occupier!” was the slogan of the day in Baghdad, where a protest march called by Moqtada al-Sadr drew tens of thousands of demonstrators calling for the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq.
The status of US troops has been controversial for awhile in Iraq, but became dramatically moreso after the US attack on Baghdad International Airport earlier this month, which killed a top Iranian general as well as members of Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF).
Concern is high that, left to their own devices, the US would end up not only starting a war with Iran, but would use Iraq as the battleground for that war. This led Iraq’s parliament to vote 170-0 to instruct the government to order US and all foreign troops out of the country.
But that hasn’t happened. The vote was almost immediately followed by President Trump threatening massive sanctions, and even to seize Iraq’s oil trade bank account, the source of 90% of the government’s revenue. Since then, Iraq’s PM Adel Abdul Mahdi has backed away from talk of the US leaving, saying that’ll be a matter for the next government to contend with.
Protesters don’t seem comfortable waiting, with one holding a placard warning that the US needs to bring its troops home or “prepare their coffins.” Others added that with the US not leaving after the parliament vote, it is to be viewed as an occupying force.
It would be difficult to contest the portrayal of the US as an occupier at this point, as the administration has made very clear that US troops have no intention of leaving Iraq, even if asked by the Iraqis.
We Want Them Out’: Iraq Protesters Call for US Troops Exit
US ignores Iraq’s demand to remove troops. A violation of international law.
Thousands march in Baghdad, heeding to call by Shia leader Muqtada al-Sadr for an anti-US demonstration.
BAGHDAD (January 24, 2020) — Thousands of people have taken to the streets in Iraq’s capital, Baghdad, after Shia leader Muqtada al-Sadr called for a “million-strong” march to demand the withdrawal of US troops from the country, putting the protest-hit city on edge.
The demonstration on Friday added an extra layer to the months-old protest movement that has gripped the capital and the Shia-majority south since October, demanding a government overhaul, early elections and more accountability.
In the early hours of Friday, protesters, including men, women and children of all ages, carried Iraqi flags and marched under grey skies.
Loudspeakers blasted “No, no America!” at a central square in Baghdad. A child held up a poster reading, “Death to America. Death to Israel.”
The US military presence in Iraq has become a hot-button issue in the country since a US drone attack killed Iranian general Qassem Soleimani and Iraqi militia commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis on January 3 outside Baghdad’s international airport.
Two days later, parliament voted for all foreign troops – including some 5,200 US forces – to leave the country and called on the government to cancel its request for assistance from the US-led coalition that had been working with Baghdad to fight the ISIL (ISIS) group.
The vote was non-binding, however, and a senior US official said on Thursday that Washington had yet to open talks with Baghdad on a troop pullout.
Al-Sadr, whose party won the most number of seats in the May 2018 parliament elections, seized on the public anger over the drone attack to call “a million-strong, peaceful, unified demonstration to condemn the American presence and its violations”.
Iraq’s top Shia Muslim leader, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, later called in his weekly sermon for political groups to form a new government as soon as possible to bring stability to the country and enact reforms to improve Iraqis’ lives.
He also reiterated his opposition to foreign interference in Iraq, having previously condemned the US killing of Soleimani.
“Iraq’s sovereignty must be respected … and citizens should have the right to peaceful protest,” he said.
‘We Don’t Want America Here’
Friday’s rally is supported by mainstream Shia parties, including al-Sadr’s political rival Hadi al-Ameri, who heads the Fatah bloc in parliament, as well as the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF, or Hashd al-Shaabi), an umbrella group comprised of an array of militias, including Iran-backed groups.
Al Jazeera’s Imran Khan, reporting from the protest, said the turnout was a “real show of strength”.
“It almost doesn’t matter if this is a million people or less. The size and the vocalness of the crowd has made sure that the message has been sent now.”
There was a heavy security presence as the protesters, mostly hailing from the capital but also Iraq’s southern provinces, walked on foot to an assembly point in Baghdad’s Jadriya neighbourhood, waving Iraqi flags and wearing symbolic white shrouds.
“I came today to protest against the US being in our lands,” Mariam, 18, told Al Jazeera.
“We want to liberate our country from these chains of oppression. We have been suppressed and hurt by the US’s own interests in the region so we want them out of Iraq.”
Aliya al-Ajeel, a mother from Sadr City, said: “The US occupation has taken everything from us. We have nothing left.”
“Since 2003, we have been stripped from our basic dignity and right to live a normal life. We’re living in decrepit houses; we have no jobs, no salaries. We don’t want America here.”
Linah Alsaafin contributed to this report from Baghdad, Iraq
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