2020 Al-Habboubi Square attack

The Al-Habboubi Square attack was a violent conflict between members of the Sadrist Movement and anti-government protesters on November 27, 2020. Located in Al-Habboubi Square, Nasiriyah, Iraq, the conflict was one of many violent uprisings in the 2019–2021 Iraqi protests.[3]

Al-Habboubi Square attack
Part of the 2019–2021 Iraqi protests
A photo of Al-Habboubi Square during the day
Al-Habboubi Square before the attack
LocationAl-Habboubi Square, Nasiriyah, Iraq
Coordinates31°03′N 46°16′E
DateNovember 27, 2020 (November 27, 2020) (UTC+3 (Arabia Standard Time))
WeaponsGuns, molotov cocktails
Deaths2–8[1][2]
Injured10–70[1]
MotiveDispelling protesters

Attack

According to the Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy, the attack was preceded by a social media post by Muhammed Saleh al-Iraqi, a social media mouthpiece for al-Sadr, telling Sadrists to "cleanse" Al-Habboubi Square of anti-government protesters.[4]

On Friday, November 27, 2020, supporters of Iraqi Shia politician Muqtada al-Sadr gathered in Tahrir Square to demonstrate support for al-Sadr. After completing Friday prayers at noon, the group marched to Al-Habboubi Square, which was already occupied by an encampment of anti-government protesters.[1]

It is unclear whether the anti-government protesters aggravated al-Sadr's supporters. Reports by Reuters suggest that the anti-government protesters were being peaceful,[3] while AP News alleged the protesters camping in Al-Habboubi Square blocked the march, at which point the Sadrists opened fire on the campers.[1] Multiple sources reported that al-Sadr's supporters shot at the protesters, threw petrol bombs into the encampment,[3] and burned the campers' tents.[5] The protesters retaliated, and the violence continued into Friday evening.[3] The Tahrir Institute claimed that Saraya al-Salam, Sadr's militia, was behind the attacks, though this was not confirmed by most major news outlets.[4]

GardaWorld reported about 60 injuries and 6 deaths,[6] while Al Jazeera reported at least 51 wounded[5] and 8 deaths.[2]

Local authorities placed a curfew in Nasiriyah following the protests, with nearby locations also enforcing security measures.[6] Middle East news outlets The National and Al-Forat News reported Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi dismissed the police chief of the Dhi Qar Governorate, Major Hazim Mohammed Al-Waily, after allegations that he failed to intervene in the attacks.[7][8]

The Tahrir Institute reported that both al-Sadr and Saleh al-Iraqi praised the attacks, accusing anti-government protesters of being "foreign agents" and calling them derogatory names.[4] On November 30, 2020, The National reported that security forces were being instated in the area, and anti-government protesters were rebuilding their encampment.[7]

See also

References
  1. Kullab, Samya; Abdul-Zahra, Qassam (2020-11-27). "Two protesters dead as supporters of Iraqi cleric rally". AP News. Archived from the original on 2022-02-12. Retrieved 2022-02-12.
  2. Barbarani, Sofia (2020-12-01). "Nasiriyah: City at the heart of Iraq's uprisings and rebellion". Al Jazeera English. Archived from the original on 2021-07-20. Retrieved 2022-02-12.
  3. "Three killed in clashes in Iraq after cleric's followers storm protest camp". Reuters. 2020-11-27. Archived from the original on 2021-11-10. Retrieved 2022-02-12.
  4. Shea, Joey; al-Hassani, Ruba (2021-02-11). "Hate Speech, Social Media, and Political Violence in Iraq: Virtual Civil Society and Upheaval". The Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy. Archived from the original on 2022-01-09. Retrieved 2022-02-12.
  5. "Tens of thousands of Sadr supporters rally in Iraq". Al Jazeera English. 2020-11-27. Archived from the original on 2021-10-11. Retrieved 2022-02-12.
  6. "Iraq: Protesters gather at al-Haboubi Square in Nasiriyah November 28 /update 2". Crisis24 | GardaWorld. 2020-11-28. Archived from the original on 2022-03-01.
  7. Mahmoud, Sinan (2020-11-30). "Iraq: government sends security forces to Nasiriyah in wake of weekend skirmishes". The National. Archived from the original on 2021-05-21. Retrieved 2020-12-02.
  8. "الكاظمي يعزل قائد شرطة ذي قار وفرض حظر للتجوال في الناصرية". Al Forat News (in Arabic). 2020-11-27. Archived from the original on 2020-11-27. Retrieved 2020-12-02.


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