Protesters Storm Parliament Building in Baghdad For Second Time in One Week

Supporters of Iraqi Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr stormed the Parliament building in Baghdad’s Green Zone on July 30, local media reported.

Pro-Sadr protesters also stormed the building on July 27. The protests have been held in opposition of the nomination of a prime ministerial candidate seen by some as being pro-Iran. According to Al-Jazeera English, the protesters oppose the candidacy of Mohammed al-Sudani, a former minister and ex-provincial governor, who is the official nominee of the Co-ordination Framework bloc, a coalition led by Iran-backed Shia parties and their allies.

Health officials said at least 60 people were injured during the protest, Alhurra reported.

The current Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi “directed the security forces to protect the demonstrators, and called on the demonstrators to remain peaceful in their movement, not to escalate, and to abide by the directives of the security forces whose goal is to protect them, and to protect official institutions.”

This footage was published by Mohammed Qahtan al-Janabi, and shows protesters in Baghdad’s Tahrir Square and inside the parliment building. Credit: Mohammed Qahtan al-Janabi via Storyful