2 killed as Iraqi forces open fire on protesters

By Haydar Karaalp

BAGDAT (AA) – At least two people were killed Wednesday as security forces opened fired on protesters in southern Iraq, according to local media.

The protesters had gathered in Nasiriyah, Zikar province to demonstrate against the imprisonment of activist Haidar al-Zaidi for criticizing Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the deputy head of Iraq's Hashd al-Shaabi or Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), who was killed in a US attack in 2020.

Some images circulating on social media show a group of demonstrators throwing Molotov cocktails at the security forces.

Iraqi activist al-Zaidi was sentenced to three years in prison by the court on Monday.

* Writing by Seda Sevencan