Shafaq News- Baghdad
The Iraqi Observatory for Human Rights (IOHR) on Saturdaycalled on Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi to stop the arrest campaign targetingprotesters in Wasit Province, warning the operations mirror the"violations" committed during Iraq's 2019 civil movement.
In a statement, the observatory pointed to the marches inthe center of Kut, where demonstrators have demanded a larger share ofelectricity supplies for the province. Quoting one of the organizers, the IOHRnoted that activists had faced threats and incitement campaigns on social mediasince the demonstrations began. Another participant said several activists hadleft their homes to avoid arrest for fear of detention warrants or surpriseraids.
Security forces, according to the observatory, launchedwidespread detentions after forcibly dispersing the crowds and injuring dozensof demonstrators.
Iraq has witnessed a sharp rise in rally activity in recentmonths. According to Verisk Maplecroft's Civil Unrest Index, the countryrecorded the fastest relative increase among emerging markets, with protestevents surging 671% year-on-year in the second quarter of 2026.
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