Riot police used batons to disperse a crowd of protesters in Iraq's southern city of Basra, according to a video shared by activists on social media on Wednesday.
The video, published on X, showed black-clad officers hitting their shields in an apparent attempt to intimidate the protesters and yelling at them to retreat.
Skirmishes broke out between the police and the demonstrators, with some officers seen rushing and hitting them with batons.
The protesters are temporary employees gathered outside the Education Department, demanding work on a permanent basis. In Iraq, temporary employees have limited rights compared to those on permanent contracts.
"Every year, they promise to grant us permanent jobs and allocated the needed funds in the budget," temporary worker Mohammed Hassan, 32, said. "They approved the [2024] budget few weeks ago and it has nothing in there about us."
The protests started peacefully outside the Education Department building, until riot police arrived.
"Everything was quiet until they came and circled us," Mr Hassan said. "They started to push us outside the area first and when we refused, friction erupted.
"They used electric stun batons in a bid to disperse us and chased some of us into the alleys."
The Interior Ministry did not respond to requests for comment.
In nearby Nasiriyah, a city about a two-hour drive north of Basra, protesters also took to the streets, condemning the lack of public services, mainly electricity. On Wednesday, they gathered outside the provincial council building, forcing it to shut down, according to activists.
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani ordered a senior "technical delegation" be sent to Nasiriyah to improve the electricity supply.
"We will not leave," an activist told The National, asking for anonymity for security reasons. "We are fed up with the government promises in well-written statements, we need deeds not words."
Basra and Nasiriyah were among the centres of pro-reform protests that erupted in Iraq in October 2019 and spread to Baghdad and across southern Iraq.
Even before then, Basra and Nasiriyah residents had protested to demand jobs, better public services and an end to corruption.
Protests have also regularly taken place during summer months when temperatures have exceeded 50°C, with Iraqis demanding improved power supply and clean water services.
Among other demands, protesters have called for an overhaul to the political system in place since the 2003 US-led invasion, and early elections based on a new voting law that gives the chance for independent candidates to reach parliament.
More than 550 activists and protesters have been killed during confrontations with security forces or killed by unidentified gunmen since October 2019. Dozens of others have fled Iraq. Tens of thousands have been wounded, with many suffering life-changing injuries.
Security forces have previously used bulldozers to remove tents and fired tear gas at stone-throwing demonstrators.
Basra is Iraq’s second-largest city and sits on about 70 per cent of the country’s proven oil reserves of 153.1 billion barrels.
It borders Iran and Kuwait and is Iraq’s only gateway to the sea through the Arabian Gulf.
Its more than five million residents have long been complaining they do not get their fair share of the province's natural resources.
Decades of war, corruption and mismanagement have left Basra in poor condition.
RESULTS
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,600m
Winner: Omania, Saif Al Balushi (jockey), Ibrahim Al Hadhrami (trainer)
5.30pm: Conditions (PA) Dh85,000 1,600m
Winner: Brehaan, Richard Mullen, Ana Mendez
6pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 1,600m
Winner: Craving, Connor Beasley, Simon Crisford
6.30pm: The President’s Cup Prep (PA) Dh100,000 2,200m
Winner: Rmmas, Tadhg O’Shea, Jean de Roualle
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup (PA) Dh70,000 1,200m
Winner: Dahess D’Arabie, Connor Beasley, Helal Al Alawi
7.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 1,400m
Winner: Fertile De Croate, Sam Hitchcott, Ibrahim Aseel
THE LOWDOWN
Romeo Akbar Walter
Rating: 2/5 stars
Produced by: Dharma Productions, Azure Entertainment
Directed by: Robby Grewal
Cast: John Abraham, Mouni Roy, Jackie Shroff and Sikandar Kher
All%20The%20Light%20We%20Cannot%20See%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECreator%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESteven%20Knight%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%C2%A0%3C%2Fstrong%3EMark%20Ruffalo%2C%20Hugh%20Laurie%2C%20Aria%20Mia%20Loberti%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E1%2F5%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Citizenship-by-investment programmes
United Kingdom
The UK offers three programmes for residency. The UK Overseas Business Representative Visa lets you open an overseas branch office of your existing company in the country at no extra investment. For the UK Tier 1 Innovator Visa, you are required to invest £50,000 (Dh238,000) into a business. You can also get a UK Tier 1 Investor Visa if you invest £2 million, £5m or £10m (the higher the investment, the sooner you obtain your permanent residency).
All UK residency visas get approved in 90 to 120 days and are valid for 3 years. After 3 years, the applicant can apply for extension of another 2 years. Once they have lived in the UK for a minimum of 6 months every year, they are eligible to apply for permanent residency (called Indefinite Leave to Remain). After one year of ILR, the applicant can apply for UK passport.
The Caribbean
Depending on the country, the investment amount starts from $100,000 (Dh367,250) and can go up to $400,000 in real estate. From the date of purchase, it will take between four to five months to receive a passport.
Portugal
The investment amount ranges from €350,000 to €500,000 (Dh1.5m to Dh2.16m) in real estate. From the date of purchase, it will take a maximum of six months to receive a Golden Visa. Applicants can apply for permanent residency after five years and Portuguese citizenship after six years.
“Among European countries with residency programmes, Portugal has been the most popular because it offers the most cost-effective programme to eventually acquire citizenship of the European Union without ever residing in Portugal,” states Veronica Cotdemiey of Citizenship Invest.
Greece
The real estate investment threshold to acquire residency for Greece is €250,000, making it the cheapest real estate residency visa scheme in Europe. You can apply for residency in four months and citizenship after seven years.
Spain
The real estate investment threshold to acquire residency for Spain is €500,000. You can apply for permanent residency after five years and citizenship after 10 years. It is not necessary to live in Spain to retain and renew the residency visa permit.
Cyprus
Cyprus offers the quickest route to citizenship of a European country in only six months. An investment of €2m in real estate is required, making it the highest priced programme in Europe.
Malta
The Malta citizenship by investment programme is lengthy and investors are required to contribute sums as donations to the Maltese government. The applicant must either contribute at least €650,000 to the National Development & Social Fund. Spouses and children are required to contribute €25,000; unmarried children between 18 and 25 and dependent parents must contribute €50,000 each.
The second step is to make an investment in property of at least €350,000 or enter a property rental contract for at least €16,000 per annum for five years. The third step is to invest at least €150,000 in bonds or shares approved by the Maltese government to be kept for at least five years.
Candidates must commit to a minimum physical presence in Malta before citizenship is granted. While you get residency in two months, you can apply for citizenship after a year.
Egypt
A one-year residency permit can be bought if you purchase property in Egypt worth $100,000. A three-year residency is available for those who invest $200,000 in property, and five years for those who purchase property worth $400,000.
Source: Citizenship Invest and Aqua Properties
Our legal consultants
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
