Anschläge gegen irakische Aktivisten gehen weiter

Im Irak gehen vor allem im Süden des Landes die Proteste gegen Korruption, unfähige Politiker und Einflussnahme des Iran weiter. 

Und weiter gehen auch die gezielten Tötungen bzw. Tötungsversuche prominenter Aktivisten, hinter denen ganz offenbar vom Iran gesteuerte Milizen stecken, die man getrost auch als Todesschwadrone bezeichnen könnte. 

A prominent activist in the city of Nasiriyah has survived a “vicious” assassination attempt, a local activist confirmed to Rudaw, after a “sticky bomb” was attached to his car. 

This comes two weeks after the assassination of prominent Karbala activist and protest leader Ihab al-Wazni, threatening an unprecedented escalation in the targeting of activists in Iraq prior to the October elections. 

A “sticky bomb”, an explosive device attached to vehicles and detonated remotely, targeted Imad al-Aqili’s car on Saturday, exploding near the city’s Faleh Pasha Grand Mosque, activist Mohammed Khayat confirmed to Rudaw. 

Aqili is in stable condition after undergoing surgery, he added.

An hour after the incident, dozens of protesters stormed the Dhi Qar governorate building, calling for the dismissal of the local government. Other angry protesters headed to al-Haboubi Square, the city’s centerpoint for demonstrations, condemning the escalation of assassinations, which are largely attributed to Iran-backed militias. 

“The assassination attempt was viscous, but we are still heading towards Baghdad tomorrow, and we don’t fear anything,” Khayat said.

The attempt on Aqili’s life comes two days prior to a large-scale demonstration planned in the capital, Baghdad on May 25. Activists and protesters in southern cities will start heading to Baghdad on Monday to mobilize, aiming to remind the government of the commitments and pledges it has made to protect demonstrators and activists. 

On Saturday, unknown gunmen killed Hashem al-Mashhadani, a member of the Azm electoral Sunni alliance, in Baghdad.