Family of kidnapped activist Sajjad Al-Iraqi stages sit-in protest in Nasiriyah

NASIRIYAH— The family of missing activist Sajjad Al-Iraqi began a sit-in protest on Wednesday outside the Dhi Qar Governorate building, demanding answers about his fate. Sajjad, a prominent figure in the 2019 Tishreen protest movement, was kidnapped four years ago, and his whereabouts remain unknown.

Supported by demonstrators from Al-Haboubi Square, the protest has escalated after years of silence from authorities. The family and friends of Sajjad have indicated that more drastic actions will follow if the government does not respond.

Sajjad was abducted on September 20, 2020, while traveling with friends. His brother, Abbas Kamel, told 964media, “After prolonged delays and stalling by the Iraqi government, we have no choice but to start an open sit-in in front of the Dhi Qar Governorate building to draw attention to my brother’s case.”

Sajjad’s activism focused on exposing corruption, and Amnesty International has reported that his family has faced “numerous threats” believed to be linked to his abductors. The organization claims that the Popular Mobilization Units pressured the family to drop their legal case.

Abbas Kamel said the sit-in is only the beginning of a series of escalating protests. “We, as Sajjad’s family, friends, and supporters, will take further steps if our demands are not met.”

Local civil activist Ihsan Abu Kawthar expressed frustration with the government’s inaction. “For four years, the authorities have done nothing, despite knowing the identity of those who kidnapped Sajjad Al-Iraqi and the fact that some involved have received death sentences,” he said.

In November 2020, arrest warrants were issued for two suspects, Idris Kreidi and Ahmed Mohammed Abd, in connection with Sajjad’s kidnapping. Both were sentenced to death in absentia in March 2023, but neither has been apprehended.

Abu Kawthar criticized the government for breaking past promises. “Many governments have pledged to reveal Sajjad’s fate, but after all these years, the authorities have yet to disclose whether he is alive or dead.”

In April, a statue commemorating Sajjad Al-Iraqi was unveiled at the Al-Hadharat Bridge in central Nasiriyah. On Sept. 9, dozens of protesters, joined by families of victims from the Tishreen movement, gathered in Al-Habboubi Square to demand justice for demonstrators killed during the protests. They also 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 2019 massacre, one of the deadliest episodes of the Tishreen protests, resulted in the deaths of 20 protesters and injuries to 190 others, ultimately leading to the resignation of then-Prime Minister Adel Abdel Mahdi.

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

The Iraqi Observatory for Human Rights reported that over 600 people were killed during the Tishreen protests, surpassing official government figures. Of the 624 victims identified, nearly half were in Baghdad. The report warned that a lack of accountability for the perpetrators could embolden further violence.