Throngs of demonstrators protested in the rain Friday, rallying in central Baghdad's Tahrir Square against corruption, unemployment, the lack of basic services and the treatment of prisoners. Several women also turned out at the square to call on the Iraqi government to release sons and husbands who are in the prison awaiting trial or investigation. Some were carrying photos of their loved ones.
"I demand Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki to release my son immediately," one elderly woman was heard shouting. "He has been in prison for months, but faces no charges. Where are human rights organizations? Let them hear my voice."
"Many Iraqis live under very poor conditions inside their homes -- God knows what kind of conditions are inside Iraq's prisons," another woman said.
On Thursday, at least 15 inmates were wounded after a riot broke out at Baghdad's Rasafa prison, Interior Ministry officials told CNN. Dozens of Rasafa inmates had set tents afire in the prison yard to protest against ill treatment, poor conditions inside the prison and the sectarian bias of some wardens in favor of Shiite inmates over Sunnis, officials said.
A fight broke out between Sunni and Shiite inmates and security forces fired live bullets to disperse the masses, wounding 15 prisoners, officials said. (read more)
No comments:
Post a Comment