Riot police detain graduates protesting for jobs at Ministry of Oil,

BAGHDAD — Riot police detained several recent graduates from Iraq’s petroleum training institutes on Sunday during a protest outside the Ministry of Oil in Baghdad, demonstrators told 964media. The protesters were demanding jobs within the ministry, highlighting ongoing frustrations over limited employment opportunities in Iraq’s vital oil sector.

Videos circulating on social media showed riot police confiscating and tearing down posters held by the protesters, further escalating tensions at the scene. In response, the demonstrators called on members of parliament to intervene for the immediate release of those detained and to address their employment demands.

The protest, involving dozens of graduates, underscores the challenges faced by Iraq’s youth, particularly those trained in oil-related fields, as they struggle to find jobs despite Iraq’s heavy dependence on oil revenues.

Officials from the Ministry of Oil and Iraqi lawmakers have yet to issue a statement regarding the detentions or the protesters’ demands.

This is not the first time Iraq’s petroleum training graduates have taken to the streets over job grievances. In December 2022, the Ministry of Oil announced the appointment of 1,443 graduates from the 2019-2020 classes, assigning them to various oil companies based on specific needs and specializations. The appointments came amid widespread protests across the country demanding government jobs.

At the time, Oil Minister Hayyan Abdul Ghani’s office said the administrative department had issued an order to allocate graduates to roles within oil companies, attempting to ease tensions with unemployed graduates.