2011 Iraqi protests

This article is about the 2011 anti-government protests. For the later Sunni led protests, see 2012–2013 Iraqi protests.

The 2011 Iraqi protests came in the wake of the Tunisian revolution and 2011 Egyptian revolution. They resulted in at least 45 deaths, including at least 29 on 25 February 2011, the "Day of Rage".

2011 Iraqi protests
Part of the Arab Spring and the protests against the Iraq War
Date	12 February 2011 – 23 December 2011 (10 months, 1 week and 4 days)^[1]
Location	Iraq
Caused by	Corruption Poor national security Poor public services Unemployment Saudi & GCC intervention in Bahrain
Methods	Demonstrations, riots
Casualties
Death(s)	35
Injuries	at least 296

Several protests in March were against the Saudi-led intervention in Bahrain.^[2][3]

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.^[4] 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.^[5]

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.^[6][7][8] In response, the government of Iraq subsidised electricity costs.^[9]

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.^[10]

On 18 February, around a thousand demonstrators blockaded a bridge in Basra, demanding the resignation of the provincial governor.^[11]

23 February

Lt. Gen. Abdul-Aziz Al-Kubaisi (Arabic: 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.^[12] 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.^[12]

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.^[12]

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.^[13]

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.^[14] 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.^[15][16][17]

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."^[17]

16 March

New protests arose at Baghdad and Basra against the Saudi-led intervention in Bahrain.^[2]

17 March

At Kerbela about 3,000 people demonstrated against Saudi Arabia.^[18] Nouri al-Maliki criticized the Saudi intervention.^[19]

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.^[20][21] 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)^[22] to half a million people (Baghdad's independent New Sabah ^[ar]).^[23] (The highest figures are not unlikely, as similar protests by Muqtada al-Sadr have drawn up to a million people, as in 2007^[24] and 2012.^[25])

10 June

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.^[26]

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.^[27]

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 Dohuk 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

1. "Iraq: Intensifying Crackdown on Free Speech, Protests". 22 January 2012. from the original on 1 September 2022. Retrieved 4 December 2016.
2. al-Ansary, Khalid (16 March 2011). "Iraq's Sadr followers march against Bahrain crackdown". Reuters. Baghdad. from the original on 28 January 2020. Retrieved 27 January 2012.
3. Santana, Rebecca (2 April 2011). "Crackdown in Bahrain Enflames Iraq's Shiites". ABC News. Baghdad. Associated Press. Retrieved 27 January 2012.
4. Jakes, Lara (5 February 2011). "Eye on unrest, Iraq PM says he won't seek 3rd term". MyWay. Associated Press. from the original on 10 March 2012. Retrieved 8 February 2011.
5. "Iraq man dies of self-immolation to protest rising unemployment". Haaretz. 13 February 2011. from the original on 14 February 2011. Retrieved 13 February 2011.
6. Sly, Liz (12 February 2011). "Egyptian revolution sparks protest movement in democratic Iraq". The Washington Post. from the original on 3 October 2018. Retrieved 12 February 2011.
7. "Protesters in Iraqi Cities Demand Better Social Services, Corruption Probes". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 12 February 2011. from the original on 22 February 2011. Retrieved 12 February 2011.
8. . Al Sumaria. 12 February 2011. Archived from the original on 28 January 2012. Retrieved 12 February 2011.
9. Rasheed, Ahmed (12 February 2011). . Reuters Africa. Archived from the original on 4 March 2011. Retrieved 12 February 2011.
10. "Two killed, 47 hurt in Iraq protest violence". Reuters. 17 February 2011. from the original on 1 February 2016. Retrieved 26 April 2011.
11. "Demonstrators block bridge in south Iraqi city". Ynetnews. 18 February 2011. from the original on 28 June 2011. Retrieved 20 February 2011.
12. "لعراق على طريق الثورة.. ضابط كبير ينضم للدعوة لمليونية الجمعة". Shorouk News. Shorouk. 23 February 2011. from the original on 27 February 2011. Retrieved 24 February 2011.
13. "Iraqi Shoe-Thrower Arrested for Supporting Protests". Voice of America. 24 February 2011. from the original on 27 February 2011. Retrieved 25 February 2011.
14. "Tensions flare in Iraq rallies". Al Jazeera English. 25 February 2011. from the original on 25 February 2011. Retrieved 25 February 2011.
15. Salaheddin, Sinan (25 February 2011). . Yahoo! News. Archived from the original on 27 February 2011. Retrieved 25 February 2011.
16. "Toll rises as Iraq, Yemen protests rage". ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation). 26 February 2011. from the original on 23 April 2011. Retrieved 24 April 2011.
17. McCrummen, Stephanie (26 February 2011). "Iraq 'Day of Rage' protests followed by detentions, beatings". The Washington Post. from the original on 19 October 2017. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
18. . Archived from the original on 19 July 2011. Retrieved 17 March 2011.
19. [Arrests after crackdown on protests in Bahrain] (in German). Manama. Reuters Deutschland. 17 March 2011. Archived from the original on 18 March 2011. Retrieved 27 January 2012.
20. "Angry crowds in Baghdad, Falluja protest conditions in Iraq". CNN. 9 April 2011. from the original on 23 January 2023. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
21. Cauter, Lieven De (24 April 2011). "From Baghdad's Own Tahrir Square to Mosul: The Friday of the Free". Truthout. from the original on 23 January 2023. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
22. Sadrist movement protest Al Sabaah (in Arabic), 26 May 2011. Retrieved Nov 2012.
23. Sadrist movement protest New Sabah (in Arabic), 26 May 2011. Retrieved Nov 2012. 28 December 2012 at the Wayback Machine
24. "Moqtada rallies Shia to demand withdrawal of foreign troops". the Guardian. 10 April 2007. from the original on 23 January 2023. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
25. "Iraq's Sadr stages Shi'ite show of force before summit". Reuters. 19 March 2012. from the original on 17 May 2021. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
26. "Hundreds rally after Iraq deadline expires", Hürriyet Daily News. 10 June 2011. Retrieved 15 June 2011. 17 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine
27. . Alsumaria. 12 August 2011. Archived from the original on 9 September 2011. Retrieved 12 August 2011.