An EU spokesman described the “excessive” use of force against demonstrators in Iraq, during which live ammunition was allegedly used, as “deplorable” to EUROPE.
“The current situation, in particular the cases of violence and loss of life during the latest wave of protests, is a source of deep concern for the EU”, he told EUROPE on 5 November.
Despite repeated calls for restraint since the beginning of the movement on 1 October (see EUROPE 12341/28), “the last few days have been marked by further deplorable loss of life, a large number of injured demonstrators, as well as the destruction of public and private property”, he regretted.
According to this spokesman, “the excessive use of force against demonstrators is deplorable”. He warned that the EU expects the Iraqi security forces to exercise the utmost restraint in dealing with demonstrations and that demonstrators should remain peaceful. According to him, the EU expects the perpetrators of all violations to be held accountable.
“The unacceptable involvement of armed entities in these events undermines the right to peaceful assembly and the expression of legitimate demands”, he said.
And while the Iraqi government had again disconnected the Internet on 5 November, the EU spokesman said that the “recurrent disruption” of the Internet in the country threatened freedom of expression.
The day before, in a statement, the S&D group in the European Parliament condemned “the brutal and bloody repression by Iraqi forces against demonstrators calling for better services and more action to fight corruption. We call for an in-depth and independent investigation into the deadly violence perpetrated against demonstrators, in particular the involvement of paramilitary forces and the alleged use of snipers”, said Dutch MEP Kati Piri.
According to Human Rights Watch, more than 140 people were killed and more than 5,000 injured. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)