Proteste vor Wahl im Irak

Wenige Tage vor den Parlamentswahlen im Irak fanden gestern erneut Proteste statt:

The Opposition Forces Gathering, an umbrella group that was birthed from the Tishreen protests, called Iraqis to return to the streets for the anniversary.

Young protesters paraded around the square, carrying the Iraqi flag and chanting, “Ten die, a hundred die, we insist on the cause.”

Though the elections were a protest demand, many on Friday were calling for a boycott, carrying posters that read “Voting for the same people will turn the country into a slaughterhouse” and “Do not vote for those who killed me.”

“I will not vote. Do I vote for murderers?” said Zubaidi, his eyes filled with grief for his dead son.

Voter turnout is expected to be low because of fears of fraud, disillusionment with the political system, and doubt a free and fair vote can be held while the killers of protesters still walk free and militias operate outside of government control.

Iraqis are not happy with the elections “because they killed our martyrs,” said Muhammad al-Tai in Baghdad’s Tahrir Square.