Nov 28, 2019 - World

Death toll in Iraqi protests reaches 350 over last two months

Rashaan Ayesh

Iraqi demonstrators gather as flames start consuming Iran's consulate in the southern Iraqi Shiite holy city of Najaf — Iraqi demonstrators gather as flames start consuming Iran's consulate in the southern city Najaf on Wednesday night. Photo: Hairda Hamdani/AFP/Getty Images

Iraqi security forces killed 27 anti-government protesters in the past 24 hours, bringing the total death toll from the past two months to 350, AP reports.

Why it matters: The country remains engulfed in its worst protests since 2016, with protesters calling for the government to resign over corruption and lack of government services. And as the violence continues to escalate, protesters are calling on the government to investigate.

The state of play:

The government ordered the military to be deployed to the southern city Najaf to disperse protesters and "restore order," Al Jazeera reports.
Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi fired a lieutenant-general recently because of the military's escalation of violence, but it's a recurring problem, per Al Jazeera.
Iraqi protesters burned down the Iranian embassy Wednesday night to express their anger at the Iranian government, the New York Times reports. Numerous Iraqi political parties in the Parliament have ties to Iran.

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Death toll in Iraqi protests reaches 350 over last two months

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