Civil activist killed, another critically injured in car crash on Diwaniyah-Basra road

BASRA – Civil activist Hussam Al-Atabi was killed and fellow activist Aboud Guevara seriously injured in a car crash Wednesday on the Diwaniyah-Basra road, authorities said.

Al-Atabi and Guevara were prominent figures during the Tishreen protests in Basra, where they played a pivotal role in mobilizing demonstrations against corruption and political repression in Iraq. The pair faced repeated arrests and scrutiny by security forces for their efforts to challenge entrenched power structures.

Hussein Saud, a mutual friend of both men, spoke with 964media about Al-Atabi’s legacy. “Al-Atabi was a voice of opposition in Basra, frequently protesting against corruption in all institutions,” he said.

“He wasn’t an ordinary person despite his young age. He exposed multiple corruption files in the health and education sectors and had many humanitarian stances,” Saud added. He later remarked, “Basra lost a dedicated man today.”

The Tishreen protests, which surged in 2019, saw mass demonstrations across central and southern Iraq against rampant unemployment, financial mismanagement, and deteriorating public services. The movement, which led to the resignation of then–Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi, was met with a violent crackdown by security forces and armed groups that left hundreds dead and thousands injured.

Authorities are investigating the cause of the crash. Aboud Guevara remains in critical condition and is receiving intensive care at General Diwaniyah Hospital.