Iraqi Communist Party slams violence against protesting medical graduates

BAGHDAD — The Iraqi Communist Party has strongly condemned the violence inflicted upon medical graduates who were demonstrating peacefully in front of the Ministry of Finance in Baghdad on Monday. The party has urged the authorities to promptly address the protesters’ legitimate demands and halt the use of delay tactics and false promises.

The protest, which involved thousands of 2023 medical graduates, was organized to press for the fulfillment of promises made in the 2024 budget, which included over 30,000 job positions. Despite commitments to allocate 60,000 public sector roles, only 29,000 positions have been filled so far.

A party statement reported, “Instead of listening to their demands, the security forces assaulted the peaceful protesters with force, resulting in injuries to dozens of them, some of which were serious.”

According to a security source speaking to 964media, more than 14 protesters sustained injuries primarily due to electric batons.

The party’s statement further criticized the assault as a “blatant violation of the constitutional right to peaceful protest,” and reaffirmed its support for the medical graduates’ demands. It also praised the unions backing the movement and reiterated calls for the government to cease its policy of procrastination and issuing misleading promises.