Under the unforgiving sun, volunteers spray water from hoses to scrub clean Baghdad’s Tahrir Square.
Young artists touch up the murals, portraits and graffiti painted on an underpass near the square at the height of the pro-reform protests that broke out in Iraq last October.
As the first anniversary of the rallies approaches, they also add new artistic expressions of their frustration at the government.
Activists plan to use October 1 to reignite the protest movement, which died down in recent months because of the coronavirus pandemic and the killings, kidnappings and intimidation of demonstrators.
In addition to their original demands for better living conditions and political change, they say they will press for those behind protesters’ killings to be brought to justice.
“October is the date for the revolutionaries,” reads one of many posters put up around Baghdad to encourage people on to the streets again.
“We will be back,” reads another message scrawled on a wall in the southern city of Nasiriyah, another protest centre. “The storm of October is coming.”
Unlike other protests since the 2003 US-led invasion which toppled long-time dictator Saddam Hussein, these demonstrations started spontaneously.
Angry young people took to the streets in Baghdad before protest fever spread to other cities in central and southern Iraq.
The demonstrators demanded jobs, better services, an end to endemic corruption and an overhaul to the sectarian political party system in place since 2003.
They want early elections under a new law that gives independent candidates a better chance to win seats in Parliament.
Government security forces responded with live rounds, tear gas and stun grenades, setting off clashes with the demonstrators.
At least 560 people, mostly protesters, have been killed, the government said. Thousands were wounded.
The government resigned weeks after the start of the protests
A new government which took office in May has mooted June 2021 as a possible date for elections, although discussions on changing the electoral law have not been concluded.
"None of our demands are met yet," activist Haider Al Hilfi told The National while sitting inside a tent in Tahrir Square.
“We will rise up again on October 1 in a new revolution.”
For months, Baghdad’s Tahrir Square was a bustling centre for thousands of protesters who turned it into a vibrant village of tents filled with young men and women from all walks of life.
But things started to change early this year. Activists were attacked when outside the square, reportedly by Iran-backed militias.
Informants mingled with the protesters, forcing many of them to abandon the camp.
Days into the protests, the demonstrators took over the abandoned 14-storey Turkish Restaurant building from the security forces who oversee the Green Zone, where key government offices and western embassies are based.
The building became a landmark for the protest movement and was renamed Jabal Uhud, a reference to a mountain in Saudi Arabia where a historic battle took place.
Now the square is almost deserted, with many tents empty and torn.
“People lost trust in the square when it was infiltrated by the political parties,” says activist Mustafa Abid, who arrived on a motorcycle to check on anniversary preparations.
“But we managed to unify our ranks. We are now working in our areas and on social media to regain trust and muster people to come to the square to commemorate the anniversary.”
When he took office in May, Prime Minister Mustafa Al Kadhimi promised investigations into the killings of the protesters, and compensation for the dead and wounded.
The government’s investigation has yet to begin. It says it will start soon after a list of the victims has been finalised.
No payment has been made and no charge filed so far.
Younis Khalifa, 23, bursts into tears as he sits next to a section of the square where pictures of the dead are hung or placed on the ground, surrounded by their bloodstained belongings, plastic flowers and copies of the Quran.
“The people let down the protests,” Mr Khalifa says, expressing disdain for Iraqis who failed to back the movement when the killing began.
“What hurts most is that we have achieved nothing, despite the blood that has been shed.”
In the southern city of Basra, activist Sameer Rahim does not rule out confrontations with security troops when resuming protests, but said there will be a response from the protesters.
“We expect heavy-handed response this time as well, but not the same one that we saw last year,” Mr Rahim says.
“The government and political parties will think twice before firing a bullet because the protesters today are different, they will retaliate immediately the same way.”
He expects the Basra protests will be bigger because they will be fuelled by an “alteration” of borders by neighbouring Kuwait, and a delay in building a major port on the Gulf.
Back in Tahrir Square, Mr Khalifa pledges to return on October 1.
“To those [who died] I say: ‘We will not forget you and we will carry on’,” even at risk of death.
Stage results
1. Julian Alaphilippe (FRA) Deceuninck-QuickStep 4:39:05
2. Michael Matthews (AUS) Team BikeExchange 0:00:08
3. Primoz Roglic (SLV) Jumbo-Visma same time
4. Jack Haig (AUS) Bahrain Victorious s.t
5. Wilco Kelderman (NED) Bora-Hansgrohe s.t
6. Tadej Pogacar (SLV) UAE Team Emirates s.t
7. David Gaudu (FRA) Groupama-FDJ s.t
8. Sergio Higuita Garcia (COL) EF Education-Nippo s.t
9. Bauke Mollema (NED) Trek-Segafredo s.t
10. Geraint Thomas (GBR) Ineos Grenadiers s.t
Profile of Tarabut Gateway
Founder: Abdulla Almoayed
Based: UAE
Founded: 2017
Number of employees: 35
Sector: FinTech
Raised: $13 million
Backers: Berlin-based venture capital company Target Global, Kingsway, CE Ventures, Entrée Capital, Zamil Investment Group, Global Ventures, Almoayed Technologies and Mad’a Investment.
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Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
More on animal trafficking
England squad
Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Dominic Bess, James Bracey, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Zak Crawley, Sam Curran, Joe Denly, Ben Foakes, Lewis Gregory, Keaton Jennings, Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, Saqib Mahmood, Craig Overton, Jamie Overton, Matthew Parkinson, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Joe Root, Dom Sibley, Ben Stokes, Olly Stone, Amar Virdi, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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SPECS
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dual%20electric%20motors%20with%20102kW%20battery%20pack%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E570hp%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20890Nm%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERange%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Up%20to%20428km%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh1%2C700%2C000%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
KEY DEVELOPMENTS IN MARITIME DISPUTE
2000: Israel withdraws from Lebanon after nearly 30 years without an officially demarcated border. The UN establishes the Blue Line to act as the frontier.
2007: Lebanon and Cyprus define their respective exclusive economic zones to facilitate oil and gas exploration. Israel uses this to define its EEZ with Cyprus
2011: Lebanon disputes Israeli-proposed line and submits documents to UN showing different EEZ. Cyprus offers to mediate without much progress.
2018: Lebanon signs first offshore oil and gas licencing deal with consortium of France’s Total, Italy’s Eni and Russia’s Novatek.
2018-2019: US seeks to mediate between Israel and Lebanon to prevent clashes over oil and gas resources.
MATCH INFO
Juventus 1 (Dybala 45')
Lazio 3 (Alberto 16', Lulic 73', Cataldi 90 4')
Red card: Rodrigo Bentancur (Juventus)
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The%20specs
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What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
Frankenstein in Baghdad
Ahmed Saadawi
Penguin Press
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
Quick%20facts
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T20 World Cup Qualifier fixtures
Tuesday, October 29
Qualifier one, 2.10pm – Netherlands v UAE
Qualifier two, 7.30pm – Namibia v Oman
Wednesday, October 30
Qualifier three, 2.10pm – Scotland v loser of qualifier one
Qualifier four, 7.30pm – Hong Kong v loser of qualifier two
Thursday, October 31
Fifth-place playoff, 2.10pm – winner of qualifier three v winner of qualifier four
Friday, November 1
Semi-final one, 2.10pm – Ireland v winner of qualifier one
Semi-final two, 7.30pm – PNG v winner of qualifier two
Saturday, November 2
Third-place playoff, 2.10pm
Final, 7.30pm
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MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League, Group C
Liverpool v Red Star Belgrade
Anfield, Liverpool
Wednesday, 11pm (UAE)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
