Senior UN Ambassador denounces use rifles stacked with birdshot on Iraqi demonstrators
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Roshan Amiri
- . February 18, 2020
- . Update: February 18, 2020 7:29 am
On Monday, senior United Nations ambassador to Iraq, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, denounced the utilization of shooting rifles stacked with birdshot on peaceful demonstrators in Baghdad and urged the authority to guarantee that the demonstrators are not hurt.
The UN Assistance Mission for Iraq stated it had received accusations targetting protestors via rifles, stones, and firebombs, leading to at least 50 injuries on the night of 14-16 February.
Birdshot is a sort of gun that is designed for hunting game in the wild. However, it can likewise cause severe injuries if utilized on people.
Around 150 individuals were injured in the city of Karbala in January alone because of the same tactics, UNAMI stated in an announcement.
Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, the Special envoy of the United Nations Secretary-General for Iraq, expressed that “The proceeded exemplar of the utilization of over the top force, with questionably recognized equipped groups and unsure loyalties, is a serious security concern that must be handled unequivocally and urgently. Peaceful protestors ought to be shielded at all times,” She emphasized the significance of the Iraqi government “ensuring fundamental human rights,” including a right to live and to protest peacefully. There was no quick remark from Iraqi authorities on the ambassador’s comments, The National detailed.
Since October, across the country, an anti-regime protest gripped, more than 500 individuals have been killed, and about 15,000 have been wounded. The demonstrations have likewise been to end foreign intervention basically by Iran and the United States.
On Monday, At least nine individuals were injured in Baghdad during repeated conflicts among protesters and security officers, two were injured as a result of birdshot, and the rest suffered teargas-related wounds, police sources revealed.
Iraq’s Deputy Health Minister expressed on Sunday that politicians in Baghdad have neglected to address long periods of mismanagement and corruption, recognizing the disappointments that have fuelled months of anti-government demonstrations.
Mohammed Tawfiq Allawi, Prime Minister-designate, urged citizens of Iraq for their support hours after his appointment by President Barham Salih starting this month. However, protesters have just dismissed him as the puppet of the administrative powers.
