Protesters in Nasiriyah demand justice for Tishreen movement victims

NASIRIYAH — Dozens of protesters, joined by families of victims from the Tishreen movement, gathered Sunday in al-Habboubi Square in Nasiriyah, Dhi Qar province, to demand justice for demonstrators killed during the protests. They called for a retrial of Officer Omar Nizar, who was previously acquitted of charges related to the Al-Zaytoun Bridge massacre due to “insufficient evidence.”

The Tishreen movement, which began in October 2019 and continued until May 2021, emerged in response to economic hardship, widespread corruption, high unemployment, inadequate public services, and government inefficiency. It was the largest protest since the fall of Saddam Hussein’s regime in 2003, operating independently of established political factions.

Ali Kazem, the father of one of the victims, expressed his frustration to 964media. “Five years have passed since the bloody Al-Zaytoun Bridge massacre, which claimed the lives of dozens of our innocent children who took to the streets to demand their legitimate rights. We are here today to condemn the neglect of our demands for justice against the killers of our children. Every government that has come after Tishreen has failed to deliver justice or reveal the crimes committed against our sons.”

The Al-Zaytoun Bridge massacre in 2019, one of the deadliest episodes of the Tishreen protests, led to widespread outrage and the resignation of then-Prime Minister Adel Abdel Mahdi. The incident resulted in the deaths of 20 protesters and injuries to 190 others.

Kazem reiterated the protesters’ demand for justice. “We renew our demand for fair retribution against the murderers of the protesters, especially the martyrs of the Al-Zaytoun massacre in Nasiriyah.”

Local civil activist Hisham Al-Shammari also spoke to 964media, saying, “Procrastination is the hallmark of governments, but we will not tire of demanding justice for the killers of our fellow demonstrators. The Al-Zaytoun Bridge massacre claimed the lives of dozens, and the most heinous methods of killing were employed. It was a bitter day for Nasiriyah and its people.”

Al-Shammari called for a retrial of Omar Nizar, “taking into account the secret testimonies presented to the court that prove his involvement in the Al-Zaytoun Bridge massacre.”

The Iraqi Observatory for Human Rights reported that the Tishreen protests resulted in over 600 deaths, surpassing official government figures. The observatory identified 624 victims, nearly half of them in Baghdad, and highlighted gunfire as the primary cause of death. The report warned that the lack of accountability for perpetrators could embolden them to commit further crimes.