A still image from a video circulated on social media showing a protester being restrained by security personnel on Al-Qaim Street in Basra.
Investigation launched after video appears to show protester assaulted by police in Basra
BASRA — Authorities in Basra have launched an investigation after a video appearing to show a demonstrator being assaulted by security forces on Al-Qaim Street circulated on social media, amid escalating protests over poor public services and water shortages.
Police Commander Maj. Gen. Latif Abdul Redha al-Sa’d ordered an immediate inquiry to determine the circumstances of the incident and take legal action against those responsible. In a statement, the police said, “Some social media platforms circulated a video showing an assault on one of the demonstrators on Al-Qaim Street. In this regard, the Commander of Basra Governorate Police, Maj. Gen. Latif Abdul Redha al-Sa’d, directed the opening of an investigation to find out the details of the incident and take legal measures against those responsible.”
The statement added that several officers were injured during the protests while performing their duty to protect demonstrators and public and private property. “The Police Command affirms its commitment to enforcing the law in order to preserve the governorate’s security and social stability,” it said.
The incident came as protests continued for a third consecutive day in several parts of Basra, where residents have blocked roads and burned tires in response to worsening public services, particularly the ongoing water salinity crisis and supply interruptions.
On Sunday evening, residents in central Basra blocked the road near the Khadhra Bridge using burning tires to protest deteriorating living conditions. Similar demonstrations were reported in Hay al-Hussein, Tamimiya, and Hay al-Hayania neighborhoods, where protesters expressed anger over the lack of potable water and demanded urgent solutions.