Basra activists mark sixth anniversary of Tishreen protests with rally at Bahriya Square

BASRA – Dozens of activists gathered Wednesday at Bahriya Square in central Basra to mark six years since the start of the Tishreen protest movement, calling for justice, reforms, and an end to government corruption.

Participants raised banners demanding accountability and displayed portraits of demonstrators killed during the protests, which erupted in October 2019 in response to widespread economic hardship, poor public services, and state dysfunction. The movement, which lasted until May 2021, was Iraq’s largest wave of mass protests since the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003.

Protesters said the demands of the Tishreen uprising remain unmet, particularly calls to end corruption, enforce the rule of law, and uphold the dignity of Iraqi citizens.

“The youth of Basra today commemorate the sixth anniversary of the Tishreen revolution, which offered thousands of martyrs and wounded. It was born from the suffering of the Iraqi people,” said civil activist Ammar Jarrs.

Activist Abu Karar Al-Ibrahimi added, “The symbolic slogan of the Tishreen uprising was ‘We want a homeland.’ Until now, the results of investigations into the killings of protesters have not been revealed.”

Raad Al-Khalifa, another participant, said the protests “exposed the corruption of militias and uncontrolled weapons,” and emphasized continued resolve: “We stand firm despite the low turnout, and one day Iraq will be freed from this corrupt elite and the militias.”

The Iraqi Observatory for Human Rights estimates that more than 600 people were killed during the protests, surpassing official government figures. Of the 624 victims identified by the group, nearly half died in Baghdad. The observatory warned that continued impunity for those responsible could increase the risk of renewed violence.